Accession Number:

ADA171520

Title:

An Upper Limit on Shepherding Satellites at Saturn's Ring G.

Descriptive Note:

Progress rept.,

Corporate Author:

IOWA UNIV IOWA CITY DEPT OF PHYSICS AND ASTRONOMY

Personal Author(s):

Report Date:

1986-07-01

Pagination or Media Count:

34.0

Abstract:

A simplified analytical theory of the absorption of energetic magnetospheric particles by an inert satellite is develop for the case in which the radius b of the satellite is much less than the equatorial gyroradius r sub g of the particle which, in turn, is very much less than the radius r of the satelites orbit. This theory and the observed particle-absorption signatures of Saturns Ring G are used to establish an upper limit on shepherding satellites associated with the ring. The resulting upper limit, ignoring the absorption of the optically observed particulate matter, is b 3.3 km accurate to a factor of two for a single satellite or sum from i 1 to n of b squared sub i 11.2 sq km accurate to a factor of four for an assemblage of n satellites of various radii b sub i. No shepherding satellites at Ring G have been detected optically.

Subject Categories:

  • Astronomy
  • Astrophysics

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE