| date: | 2013 February 6 (Wed) 14:00-15:00 |
| room: | CPS Conference Room |
| speaker: | Frank Postberg (University of Stuttgart) |
| organizer: | Hiroshi Kimura |
| title: |
The Saturnian System - a Dusty Point of View Part 1: Rings, Moons and Water-Worlds |
| abstract: |
Since more then 8 years the well equipped Cassini space craft is in orbit about Saturn. We give an introduction to the Cassini's research in the Saturnian System and present results from Cassini's Cosmic Dust Analyser (CDA) on dust composition in the Saturnian system. After have an introduction on Saturn's moons and rings we focus on in situ detection of ice particles from the small ice moon Enceladus. Enceladus is one of the most interesting bodies in the Saturnian system. 2005 Cassini's instruments discovered huge fountains made of tiny water ice particles and gas. They emerge from parallel rift system located at the moons south pole and contain unexpected chemical compounds. Since many years there is a controversy discussion weather there is an ocean below the moon's icy crust and if Enceladus' cryo-volcanism is fueled by liquid water. CDA results strongly argue for liquid water in contact with the rocky core of the moon. |