Simulation of Na D emission near Europa during eclipse

T. A. Cassidy (1) , R. E. E. Johnson (1) , P. E. Geissler (2) , François Leblanc (3)

1 Department of Astronomy [Charlottesville]
2 US Geological Survey [Flagstaff]
3 SA - Service d'aéronomie

The Cassini imaging science subsystem observed Europa in eclipse during Cassini's Jupiter flyby. The disk-resolved observations revealed a spatially nonuniform emission in the wavelength range of 200–1050 nm (clear filters). By building on observations and simulations of Europa's Na atmosphere and torus we find that electron-excited Na in Europa's tenuous atmosphere can account for the observed emission if the Na is ejected preferentially from Europa's dark terrain

Mots clés: Europa atmosphere; aurora

Domaines: Océan, Atmosphère

T. A. Cassidy, R. E. E. Johnson, P. E. Geissler, François Leblanc. Simulation of Na D emission near Europa during eclipse. Journal of Geophysical Research. Planets, 2008, 113 (E2), pp.E02005. ⟨10.1029/2007JE002955⟩. ⟨hal-00256762⟩