Astronomers discover decrease in Saturn winds
Posted: Fri, Jun 6, 2003, 7:00 PM ET (2300 GMT)
Winds in the atmosphere of Saturn's equatorial region have dropped dramatically in the last two decades, possible evidence of seasonal changes on the planet, astronomers reported this week. In a paper published in the latest issue of the journal Nature, Spanish and American scientists reported their measurements of Saturn's winds between 1996 and 2002 using images from the Hubble Space Telescope. They found that the winds in the equatorial region were about 990 kmph, nearly half the 1,700 kmph measured by the Voyager spacecraft in 1980-81. While planetary scientists had believed that Saturn's winds were driven in large part by the planet's own internal heat source, this discovery suggests that solar heating may play a role; the change in seasons over the last 20 years could explain the decrease in wind speeds. The researchers also noted that the wind speeds measured in the Hubble images may have been at a higher region of the atmosphere than the Voyager data, which would also explain the lower speeds.
Winds in the atmosphere of Saturn's equatorial region have dropped dramatically in the last two decades, possible evidence of seasonal changes on the planet, astronomers reported this week. In a paper published in the latest issue of the journal Nature, Spanish and American scientists reported their measurements of Saturn's winds between 1996 and 2002 using images from the Hubble Space Telescope. They found that the winds in the equatorial region were about 990 kmph, nearly half the 1,700 kmph measured by the Voyager spacecraft in 1980-81. While planetary scientists had believed that Saturn's winds were driven in large part by the planet's own internal heat source, this discovery suggests that solar heating may play a role; the change in seasons over the last 20 years could explain the decrease in wind speeds. The researchers also noted that the wind speeds measured in the Hubble images may have been at a higher region of the atmosphere than the Voyager data, which would also explain the lower speeds.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
SpaceX sets Nov. 18 launch date for sixth Starship test flight
Posted: Sat, Nov 9 9:57 AM ET (1457 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Monday, November 25
Rocket Lab Successfully Launches Two Missions in Less Than 24 Hours
Rocket Lab — 5:15 am ET (1015 GMT) Start thinking about space tourism, Travel Counsellors agents told
Travel Weekly — 5:15 am ET (1015 GMT) Greater transparency will enhance space governance
Australian Strategic Policy Institute — 5:14 am ET (1014 GMT) Rural visionaries and space frontiers: How Terry Kilgore helped transform Virginia into a commercial space hub
Cardinal News — 5:14 am ET (1014 GMT) Colorado Springs named permanent home for 250 Delta 15 Space Force guardians, ahead of possible Space Command fight
Colorado Springs Gazette — 5:14 am ET (1014 GMT) |
