The Secrets of Iapetus Research

(Or: The Desperate Hunt for a Solution of One Mystery, With the Outcome of En in! up "ith Two#

Tilmann Den$
(%reie &ni'ersit(t )erlin, *ermany#

in +ehalf of the ,assini Ima!in! Team ,H-RM telecon, ./0, /asa ena (,-# Start &T,: 12234213T15:22 &T, (.an 13#
1

,ontent
6 Intro uction 6 The hemispheric +ri!htness ichotomy mystery an its 'arious solution attempts in earlier centuries 6 The ,assini ISS (ima!in!# plannin! effort 6 ,assini arri'es at Saturn 6 ,assini senses Iapetus at close 7uarters 6 The secon mystery
1

Intro uction 9 The Spea$er

6 :ame: Tilmann Den$ 6 )orn: 15;3 a!e < 85 6 E ucation: -erospace technolo!y 6 Employer: %reie &ni'ersit(t )erlin 6 ,assini: Ima!in! team associate 6 /rofession: Icy satellite photo!rapher
8

Intro uction 9 Who is Iapetus>

6 - Saturnian satellite (8r lar!est# 6 Disco'ery: .ean4Domini7ue ,assini 1;?1@?1 6 /hysics: D A 1==2 $m (har to say eBactly#C < 1D1 !@cm8C M < 1DEF1211 $! 6 Or+it: a < 8,3;2,E22 $mC e < 2D21E=C i < ?D3?G (tilt < 1=DE=GC Pnode < 8138D? yrs#C P < ?5D88 (syncD rotation# 6 Solar system siHe ran$in! ("@o T:Os#: 12 <I *eneral assessment: Jery unusualK
=

IapetusL Hemispheric )ri!htness Dichotomy: )asics

6 6 6 6 6 Disco'ere +y .D4DD ,assini in 1;?1 Dar$ lea in! si e as ar$ as a fresh street )ri!ht trailin! si e (almost# as +ri!ht as fresh sno" &neBplaine since I888 years Serious eBplanation attempts since early 15?2Ls

6 One of the ol est ri les of planetolo!y (or e'en the ol est># 6 %irst ima!e +y Joya!er 1 M 1 (15E2@E1# 6 Dar$ hemisphere name N,assini Re!ioO

)ri!htness Dichotomy: The -stronautLs Helmet

helmetLs hin!e (also $no"n as Nthe moatO#

IapetusL Hemispheric )ri!htness Dichotomy: Why is it>

6 I ea P 1 (Soter 15?=#: ,assini Re!io < /hoe+e ust

IapetusL Hemispheric )ri!htness Dichotomy: Why is it>

6 I ea P 1 (Soter 15?=#: ,assini Re!io < /hoe+e ust 6 I ea P 1 (Joya!er 15E2@E1#: En o!enic ori!in of ar$ material

IapetusL Hemispheric )ri!htness Dichotomy: Why is it>

6 I ea P 1 (Soter 15?=#: ,assini Re!io < /hoe+e ust 6 I ea P 1 (Joya!er 15E2@E1#: En o!enic ori!in of ar$ material 6 I ea P 8 ('arious authors#: /hoe+e or interplanetary ust Qust alters the lea in! si e

12

IapetusL Hemispheric )ri!htness Dichotomy: Why is it>

6 I ea P 1 (Soter 15?=#: ,assini Re!io < /hoe+e ust 6 I ea P 1 (Joya!er 15E2@E1#: En o!enic ori!in of ar$ material 6 I ea P 8 ('arious authors#: /hoe+e or interplanetary ust Qust alters the lea in! si e 6 I ea P = ('arious authors#: ,atastrophic collisions (I-, HR, outer satD, TI#
11

-l+e o4 ichotomy ori!in summary

/ossi+le classification of Iapetus !lo+al al+e o ichotomy ori!in hypotheses:
1D EBo!enic ori!in@ ust is comin! in o'er lon! time
(a# Dar$ !rayish ust from /hoe+e hits IapetusSs lea in! si e an !ets chemically altere @ re ene (Soter 15?=, )urns et al. 15?5, 155;C Hamilton 155?# (+# Dar$ re ish ust from smaller retro!ra e outer saturnian satellites co'ers IapetusSs lea in! si e ()uratti et al. 1221#

1D -symmetric eBo!enic influence remo'es thin ice 'eneer from lea in! si e, +ut not from trailin! si e an poles
(a) Viewpoint of orbit mechanics: (a1# ,ircumsaturnian ust is the cause (from /hoe+e or other outer Saturnian satellites# (,rui$shan$ et al. 15E8C )ell et al. 15E3C )uratti an Mosher 1553# (a1# Interplanetary micrometeoroi fluB is the cause (,oo$ an %ran$lin 15?2C S7uyres an Sa!an 15E8C Wilson an Sa!an 155;# (b) Viewpoint of physical processes on the surface: (+1# EBposin! of the ar$ su+surface layer +y +ri!ht material erosion (,oo$ an %ran$lin 15?2C Wilson an Sa!an 155;# (+1# enrichment of formerly intimately miBe ar$ material ue to su+limation of the +ri!ht ice component (,rui$shan$ et al. 15E8C )ell et al. 15E3C )uratti an Mosher 1553# (+8# synthesis of the ar$ material +y chemical@irra iation processes ma e possi+le +y +ri!ht icy material erosion (S7uyres an Sa!an 15E8#

8D EBo!enic ori!in@ ust an

e+ris ori!inates from a maQor sin!le e'ent

(a# from collision "ith re ish Hyperion (Matthe"s 1551, Marchi et al. 1221# (+# from collision "ith Iapetus itself (Ta+a$ an Roun! 15E5# (c# from collision of an outer saturnian satellite "ith a heliocentric o+Qect "ith the result of a retro!ra e e+ris clou crossin! IapetusSs or+it (Den$ an :eu$um 1222# ( # material comes from Titan (O"en et al. 1221#

=D En o!enic ori!in: Dar$ material from interior (Smith et al. 15E1, 15E1#

11

May ,assini help>

We are optimisticK

18

The ,assini ISS /lannin! Effort

(for 122=#

6 .uly@ -u!ust 122=: 0ea in! si e, southern hemisphere (up to 13 $m@pBl#

1=

,assini ISS /lans, .ul@-u! 122=

13

.ul@-u! 122=: Ima!es M isco'eries

6 Three !iant impact +asins (T 852 to 332 $m# 6 ,raters on the southern hemisphere 6 ,raters "ithin ,assini Re!io

1;

.ul@-u! 122=: )i! impact structures

,assini Re!io: A852 $m +asin

Trailin! si e: A322 $m +asin

1?

The ,assini ISS /lannin! Effort

(for 122=#

6 .uly@ -u!ust 122=: 0ea in! si e, southern hemisphere (up to 13 $m@pBl# 6 Octo+er 122=: 0ea in! si e, anti4Saturn hemisphere (up to ;D? $m@pBl# -n : Su+4Saturn +ri!ht terrain in USaturn shineL

1E

,assini ISS /lans, Oct 122=

NSun shineO o+ser'ations

NSaturn shineO o+ser'ations

15

Oct 122=: Ima!es M isco'eries

6 /eculiar e7uatorial "ispy strea$ in ,assini Re!io 6 1E2GW meri ian is a color +oun ary (confirme # 6 Hi!h NJoya!er mountainsO confirme 6 USaturn shineL ima!es of NmoatO
12

Mountains
Joya!er 1 Joya!er 1

,assini

,assini

,assini

,assini

11

Mountains

Joya!er 1

,assini

11

Saturn4facin! Hemisphere

Joya!er 1 ata (15E2#

,assini o+ser'ations (.uly 122=#

,assini in Octo+er 122=

in OSaturn shineV
5D8 $m@pBlC ==G OphaseVC su+4S@, lat@lon < 2G@81;G

18

The ,assini ISS /lannin! Effort

(for 122=#

6 .uly@ -u!ust 122=: 0ea in! si e, southern hemisphere (up to 13 $m@pBl# 6 Octo+er 122=: 0ea in! si e, anti4Saturn hemisphere (up to ;D? $m@pBl# -n : Su+4Saturn +ri!ht terrain in USaturn shineL 6 ,hristmas holi ays 122=: O/:-Js of lea in! si e (up to =D8 $m@pBl, lo" phase an!le#
1=

,assini ISS /lans, Dec 122=

13

Dec 122=: Ima!es M isco'eries

6 - forth lar!e +asin (T A =22 $m# 6 NMoatO is a 132 $m siHe crater
T A =22 $m T A 332 $m

1;

Dec 122=: Ima!es M isco'eries

6 Stunnin! lan form: The N+elly+an O 6 A1222 $m lon! ri !e or chain of mountains 6 EBactly ali!ne alon! the e7uator 6 &p to 12 $m hi!h ( epen s on selection of reference ra ius# 6 :arro" pea$, resi in! on a +roa er +ul!e

1?

Joya!er ima!es mi!ht sho" it as "ellDDD

1E

The ,assini ISS /lannin! Effort

(for 122= W 1 ays#

6 :e"4RearLs E'e 122=@23: 1n closest fly+y of nominal mission: 118,=22 $m altitu e < up to ?=2 m@pBl 6 - !ift from the Tour *o s 6 E ISS mosaics: from mo erate 32G to hi!h 1=2G phase an!lesC from 1 $m@pBl to ?=2 m@pBl to 1D1 $m@pBl
15

%irst mosaic: ISSX22)I-X*0O),O0-221X/RIME (122=48;;T21:38 &T,C 22:=1 hrs#

Trigger # Telemetry Rate number footprints number of images total !ata "olume (pre#i$t) 2'( $lr (1'2 $olor) mosai$ 170000 )m alt*+ 1.0 km/pxl (,-. 1sum)+ d_IA=1410 pxl; 50 deg phase+ sub/S0. lat0lon 1 223070+ sun illuminates surfa$e from left .lear filters4 2 ,-. s5utters per footprint4 1%0 ms (brig5t) an# 1*2 se$ (#ar) terrain) 1'2 multi/$olor mosai$ 6it5 substantial o7erlap4 Southern footprint (ftprt 1): 12 $ol8 ( pol ,-.s+ s5utter times 9optimi:e#9 for #ar) terrain* Northern footprint (ftprt 2): 20 $ol8 pol ,-.s+ s5utter times 9optimi:e#9 for brig5t terrain+ 4 ;-. <R polari:ers* ;-. 4/$olor $onte't ("io8 =rn8 <r18 <r() 2157 S&ER5a (40) 61 2%2 &b

north pole

82

=th mosaic: ISSX22,I-X0IM)TO/OD221X/RIME (122=48;;T1E:82 &T,C 22:82 hrs#

Trigger # Telemetry Rate number footprints number of images total !ata "olume (pre#i$t) 2'( ,-. $lr mosai$ 12(400 )m alt*+ 740 m/pxl (,-. 1sum)+ d_IA=2000 pxl; 93 deg phase+ sub/S0. lat0lon 1 2 (027+ sun illuminates surfa$e from left 2 ,-. s5utters per footprint4 2 0 ms (brig5t) an# 1*5 se$ (#ar) terrain) >tprt 14 4/$olor ,-. 2sum (getting mini/pie$e of trailing si#e) ?ast ftprt4 graylig5t imaging ( long e'p ,-.+ 1sum an# 2sum) ;-. 4/$olor $onte't ("io8 =rn8 <r18 <r() 21 0 S&ER( (24) 7 26 32 &b

81

?th mosaic: ISSX22,I-X*R-R0ITEH221X/RIME (12234221T2=:22 &T,C 21:22 hrs#

Trigger # Telemetry Rate number footprints number of images total !ata "olume (pre#i$t) (2(22 ,-. $lr mosai$ 1( 000 )m alt*+ 820 m/pxl (,-. 1sum)+ d_IA=1760 pxl; 123 deg phase+ sub/S0. lat0lon 1 2 00(13+ sun illuminates surfa$e from left (Saturn also) 2 ,-. s5utters per footprint4 (20 ms (brig5t) an# 2*0 se$ (#ar) terrain) 1'4 ,-. mosai$ for graylig5t imaging (4 s5utters0ftprt+ 1sum an# 2sum) ;-. 4/$olor $onte't ("io8 =rn8 <r18 <r() 21 5 S&ER( (24) 1( 34 12( &b

81

Huy!ens tar!etin!: 1;@1? Dec 122= Huy!ens release: 13 Dec 122= ,assini eflection: 1E Dec 122= MI- uplin$: 15 Dec 122= Iapetus o+ser'ations: 81 Dec 2= 9 21 .an

88

*0O),O0- !lo+al 'ie" at 1 $m@pBl

ISSX22)I-X*0O),O0-221 (1 $m@pBl#

8=

The N+elly+an O

Ri !e closer (- an ) se7uences#

83

,raters at center of ar$ ,assini Re!io

,raters in ar$ hemisphere

8;

N0an sli e craterO (T A 112 $m#

0an sli e crater closeup

8?

ar$ material strea$s an crater "alls (color ima!e#

Dar$ material strea$s in transition Hone 8E

,raters "ithin ar$ terrain "ith north4facin! +ri!ht "alls

)ri!ht crater "alls closer

85

NSaturn shineO ima!e (1D1 $m@pBl# of trailin! si e

Saturn shine ima!es

=2

,ontent
6 Intro uction 6 The hemispheric +ri!htness ichotomy mystery an its 'arious solution attempts in earlier centuries 6 The ,assini ISS (ima!in!# plannin! effort 6 ,assini arri'es at Saturn 6 ,assini senses Iapetus at close 7uarters 6 The secon mystery
=1

The Secon Mystery

6 :e"4RearLs E'e fly+y hope: Sol'e the +ri!htness ichotomy ori!in ri le the +rilliant i ea is still missin! 6 :e"4RearLs E'e fly+y isco'ery: The N+elly+an O is as uni7ue an eBcitin! an uneBplaine as the ichotomy the +rilliant i ea is also missin!
=1

The %inal NHopeO: Sep 122?

Planned Cassini flybys at Iapetus (selection)*
Date minD altitu e +est ISS piBel scale 'isi+le hemisphereFF 44444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444 .ul 122= 1,322,222 $m 13 $m@pBl ,R, southern +ri!ht terrain, S/ Oct 122= 1,112,222 $m ;D? $m@pBl anti4Saturn si e ("estern ,R#, S/ 81Dec2=@ 21.an23 118,=22 $m ?=2 m@pBl northern ,R, hi!h northern latitu es 44444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444 :o' 1223 =1;,222 $m 1D3 $m@pBl eastern an central ,R, northD +ri!ht terrain .an 122; E?5,222 $m 3D8 $m@pBl eastern ,R an transD Hone, YmoatY partially -pr 122; ;28,222 $m 8D; $m@pBl lea in! si e, S/ Sep 122? A1,1?2 $mP A11 m@pBl ,R (hi!h phase#, trailin! si e (lo" phase# 44444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444 FDDDInclu e are all fly+ys in 122= an all fly+ys +elo" 12; $m altitu e until .une 122ED FFDDD,R < ,assini Re!io ( ar$ material hemisphere#C S/ < south poleD PDDD12 Sep 122?: tar!ete fly+y altitu e not fiBe yetC mi!ht +e +et"een A1222 an A1=22 $mD

=8

ISS o+ser'ations 12 Sep 122?

(,urrent status of ima!in! plan at I-W22:82 to I-W28:22#

==

Ima!es from ,assini (ISS Team home pa!e#: http:@@"""DciclopsDor! 4444444444444

0/S, conference a+stracts a+out Iapetus (early %e+ruary#: http:@@"""DlpiDusraDe u@meetin!s@lpsc1223@
=3