Ion neutral mass spectrometer results from the first flyby of Titan.

نویسندگان

  • J Hunter Waite
  • Hasso Niemann
  • Roger V Yelle
  • Wayne T Kasprzak
  • Thomas E Cravens
  • Janet G Luhmann
  • Ralph L McNutt
  • Wing-Huen Ip
  • David Gell
  • Virginie De La Haye
  • Ingo Müller-Wordag
  • Brian Magee
  • Nathan Borggren
  • Steve Ledvina
  • Greg Fletcher
  • Erin Walter
  • Ryan Miller
  • Stefan Scherer
  • Rob Thorpe
  • Jing Xu
  • Bruce Block
  • Ken Arnett
چکیده

The Cassini Ion Neutral Mass Spectrometer (INMS) has obtained the first in situ composition measurements of the neutral densities of molecular nitrogen, methane, molecular hydrogen, argon, and a host of stable carbon-nitrile compounds in Titan's upper atmosphere. INMS in situ mass spectrometry has also provided evidence for atmospheric waves in the upper atmosphere and the first direct measurements of isotopes of nitrogen, carbon, and argon, which reveal interesting clues about the evolution of the atmosphere. The bulk composition and thermal structure of the moon's upper atmosphere do not appear to have changed considerably since the Voyager 1 flyby.

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عنوان ژورنال:
  • Science

دوره 308 5724  شماره 

صفحات  -

تاریخ انتشار 2005