Publication Abstracts

Porco et al. 2004

Porco, C.C., R.A. West, S. Squyres, A. McEwen, P. Thomas, C.D. Murray, A. Del Genio, A.P. Ingersoll, T.V. Johnson, G. Neukum, J. Veverka, L. Dones, A. Brahic, J.A. Burns, V. Haemmerle, B. Knowles, D. Dawson, T. Roatsch, K. Beurle, and W. Owen, 2004: Cassini imaging science: Instrument characteristics and capabilities and anticipated scientific investigations at Saturn. Space Sci. Rev., 115, 363-497, doi:10.1007/s11214-004-1456-7.

The Cassini Imaging Science Subsystem (ISS) is the highest-resolution two-dimensional imaging device on the Cassini Orbiter and has been designed for investigations of the bodies and phenomena found within the Saturnian planetary system. It consists of two framing cameras: a narrow angle, reflecting telescope with a2-m focal length and a square field of view (FOV) 0.35° across, and a wide-angle refractor with a 0.2-m focal length and a FOV 3.5° across. At the heart of each camera is a charged coupled device (CCD) detector consisting of a 10 square array of pixels, each 12 μ on a side. The data system allows many options for data collection, including choices for on-chip summing, rapid imaging and data compression. Each camera is outfitted with a large number of spectral filters which, taken together, span the electromagnetic spectrum from 200 to 1100 nm. These were chosen to address a multitude of Saturn-system scientific objectives: sounding the three-dimensional cloud structure and meteorology of the Saturn and Titan atmospheres, capturing lightning on both bodies, imaging the surfaces of Saturn's many icy satellites, determining the structure of its enormous ring system, searching for previously undiscovered Saturnian moons (within and exterior to the rings), peering through the hazy Titan atmosphere to its yet-unexplored surface, and in general searching for temporal variability throughout the system on a variety of time scales. The ISS is also the optical navigation instrument for the Cassini mission. We describe here the capabilities and characteristics of the Cassini ISS, determined from both ground calibration data and in-flight data taken during cruise, and the Saturn-system investigations that will be conducted with it. At the time of writing, Cassini was approaching Saturn and the images returned to Earth thus far are both breathtaking and promising.

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BibTeX Citation

@article{po04100j,
  author={Porco, C. C. and West, R. A. and Squyres, S. and McEwen, A. and Thomas, P. and Murray, C. D. and Del Genio, A. and Ingersoll, A. P. and Johnson, T. V. and Neukum, G. and Veverka, J. and Dones, L. and Brahic, A. and Burns, J. A. and Haemmerle, V. and Knowles, B. and Dawson, D. and Roatsch, T. and Beurle, K. and Owen, W.},
  title={Cassini imaging science: Instrument characteristics and capabilities and anticipated scientific investigations at Saturn},
  year={2004},
  journal={Space Science Reviews},
  volume={115},
  pages={363--497},
  doi={10.1007/s11214-004-1456-7},
}

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RIS Citation

TY  - JOUR
ID  - po04100j
AU  - Porco, C. C.
AU  - West, R. A.
AU  - Squyres, S.
AU  - McEwen, A.
AU  - Thomas, P.
AU  - Murray, C. D.
AU  - Del Genio, A.
AU  - Ingersoll, A. P.
AU  - Johnson, T. V.
AU  - Neukum, G.
AU  - Veverka, J.
AU  - Dones, L.
AU  - Brahic, A.
AU  - Burns, J. A.
AU  - Haemmerle, V.
AU  - Knowles, B.
AU  - Dawson, D.
AU  - Roatsch, T.
AU  - Beurle, K.
AU  - Owen, W.
PY  - 2004
TI  - Cassini imaging science: Instrument characteristics and capabilities and anticipated scientific investigations at Saturn
JA  - Space Sci. Rev.
JO  - Space Science Reviews
VL  - 115
SP  - 363
EP  - 497
DO  - 10.1007/s11214-004-1456-7
ER  -

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