Thermal response of Iapetus to an eclipse by Saturn's rings

G. Neugebauer, K. Matthews, P. D. Nicholson, B. T. Soifer, I. Gatley, S. V.W. Beckwith

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

8 Scopus citations

Abstract

Measurements of Iapetus as seen at 20 and 2.2 μm in the shadow of Saturn's ring are given, providing the thermal response to a rapidly varying heat input. The 20 μm thermal emission follows the 2.2 μm flux input closely. The observations, plus a simple diffusion calculation, imply that the surface of Iapetus is made of material having a very small thermal inertia, probably I ≲ 10 Jm-2 s-1/2 K-1.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)63-68
Number of pages6
JournalIcarus
Volume177
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 2005
Externally publishedYes

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Astronomy and Astrophysics
  • Space and Planetary Science

Keywords

  • Eclipses
  • Infrared observations
  • Planetary rings
  • Satellites of Saturn
  • Saturn

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