The Io Plasma Torus Volcanoes Atmospheres and Magnetospheres

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The Io Plasma Torus Volcanoes, Atmospheres, and Magnetospheres, Oh My! Dr. Jeff Morgenthaler

The Io Plasma Torus Volcanoes, Atmospheres, and Magnetospheres, Oh My! Dr. Jeff Morgenthaler

Outline • Scientific background – Galilean satellites – Jovian magnetosphere – Io plasma torus

Outline • Scientific background – Galilean satellites – Jovian magnetosphere – Io plasma torus (IPT) • Observing the IPT • Relating the IPT to other facets of the Jovian system • Time allowing: other fuzzy blobs I know and love – Comets – The heliosphere

Scientific background: Galilean Satellites • Jupiter is one of the “original” 5 planets –

Scientific background: Galilean Satellites • Jupiter is one of the “original” 5 planets – Planet is Greek for “wanderer” – Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn • First telescopic observation by Galileo in 1610 – Showed mini Copernican system – Four satellites Images: Universe, Kaufmann & Freedman

Galilean Satellite Family Portrait Image source: NASA/JPL Io Ganymede Europa Callisto

Galilean Satellite Family Portrait Image source: NASA/JPL Io Ganymede Europa Callisto

Tidal heating of Io Image source: NASA/JPL

Tidal heating of Io Image source: NASA/JPL

Io is the most volcanic body in the solar system Pillan Patera Prometheus APOD

Io is the most volcanic body in the solar system Pillan Patera Prometheus APOD 2007 February 11, Galileo data from 1997 June 28

Scientific background: Jovian Magnetosphere • Magnetic field: approximated by offset, tilted dipole Source

Scientific background: Jovian Magnetosphere • Magnetic field: approximated by offset, tilted dipole Source

Scientific background: Jovian Magnetosphere • Magnetosphere: where a planet’s magnetic field has more influence

Scientific background: Jovian Magnetosphere • Magnetosphere: where a planet’s magnetic field has more influence than the solar wind on plasma • ~50 Rj upwind, ~100 Rj downwind NASA/JPL

Io Plasma Torus NASA/JPL

Io Plasma Torus NASA/JPL

Observing the Io Plasma Torus N. M. Schneider and J. T. Trauger (1995) Neutral

Observing the Io Plasma Torus N. M. Schneider and J. T. Trauger (1995) Neutral density filter Narrow-band filter (e. g. S II])

Observing the Io Plasma Torus: Mc. Math-Pierce Solar Telescope Data

Observing the Io Plasma Torus: Mc. Math-Pierce Solar Telescope Data

Mc. Math-Pierce Solar Telescope Io Torus Imager Neutral density filter Narrow-band filter Guider CCD

Mc. Math-Pierce Solar Telescope Io Torus Imager Neutral density filter Narrow-band filter Guider CCD

Mc. Math-Pierce Solar Telescope Facility (works at night too)

Mc. Math-Pierce Solar Telescope Facility (works at night too)

Relating the IPT to other facets of the Jovian system Jovian System – Io

Relating the IPT to other facets of the Jovian system Jovian System – Io Plasma Torus STIS observations of Io

Io [OI] line Example spectrum: 2002 Jan 26

Io [OI] line Example spectrum: 2002 Jan 26

Io Plasma Torus Summary • Torus imager for portable telescopes has been successfully deployed

Io Plasma Torus Summary • Torus imager for portable telescopes has been successfully deployed (Nozawa et al. 2004) • Need to verify sky is dark enough above Holland, MI N. M. Schneider and J. T. Trauger (1995)

Comet Basics

Comet Basics

Anatomy of a comet Sun (106 km) Ion Tail Dust Tail Head Dust (1

Anatomy of a comet Sun (106 km) Ion Tail Dust Tail Head Dust (1 m)

Studying comets: remote sensing CN coma:

Studying comets: remote sensing CN coma:

X-ray emission from comets and the solar system • Solar wind • Heliosphere •

X-ray emission from comets and the solar system • Solar wind • Heliosphere • Local interstellar medium (solar wind ion) (cometary or interplanetary hydrogen)

Diffuse X-ray Spectrometer What used to be thought of as interstellar X-ray emission may

Diffuse X-ray Spectrometer What used to be thought of as interstellar X-ray emission may be entirely heliospheric