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Some of the latest data from the Cassini mission reveal more structure in Saturn's magnetic field, but still no answer as to how it was formed.
NASA's Cassini mission – with the Imperial kit on board – took a series of daring dives between the planet and its deepest ring in September 2017 before being consumed in the atmosphere of the planet.
An initial analysis of the magnetometer instrument data, constructed and operated by physicists at Imperial College London, shows that the planet 's magnetic field has an inclination of less than 0.01 ?. The results are published in a special issue of Science presenting the first results of the end of the mission.
It was thought that the magnetic fields around the planets can only be formed if there is a noticeable inclination between the axis of rotation of the planet and the axis of the magnetic field. This is the situation on Earth, where the magnetic poles are offset from the geographical poles.
This inclination keeps the currents in a layer of liquid metal deep within the planet – on Earth, it is a layer of iron-nickel liquid surrounding the solid iron core and, on Saturn, a layer of hydrogen metal surrounding a small rocky core.
The magnetometer's principal investigator, Professor Michele Dougherty, of the Imperial Physics Department, said: "Whenever we measure with more precision the tilt of Saturn's magnetic field, it becomes smaller Until now, we are in a position where it is smaller than a hundredth of a degree, which contrasts sharply with the tilt of the earth's magnetic field by 11 degrees.
"Saturn's turbulent thick gas atmosphere may obscure some magnetic data, but it seems increasingly likely that we will have to rethink how different types of planets can form magnetic fields."
Although this almost negligible tilt is a surprising mystery for scientists, the team has spotted some other interesting structures in the near magnetic field of the planet, which might contain other clues.
Closer to Saturn, they saw signals suggesting a secondary source of magnetism for the planet. Above the deep liquid hydrogen layer creating the main magnetic field of the planet, they suggest that there is a shallower layer producing many much smaller magnetic fields and stable.
An electric current also seems to flow between the inner ring, the D ring and the planet. The rings intersect the main magnetic field lines around the planet's equator and can play a role in the formation of magnetic fields generated on the outside of the planet.
Dr. Gregory Hunt, co-author of the Imperial Department of Physics study, said, "There are fascinating signatures of other fields at play in Saturn's magnetic environment, potentially influenced by rings or the wind structures of the atmosphere.
"Despite the end of Cassini's mission a year ago, we will explore the data and make new discoveries for years to come."
The team takes a closer look at these phenomena and models the possible structures for the interior of Saturn. They will also combine their data with other Cassini instruments. For example, combining magnetometer data with gravity data could allow them to calculate the mass, size and density of the planet's nucleus.
Research Document
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Imperial College London
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SwRI scientists study the rings of Saturn to discover the showers
San Antonio TX (SPX) Oct 5, 2018
Using some of the final measurements of the Cassini probe, scientists at the Southwest Research Institute discovered that complex organic matter was falling from the rings of Saturn in the upper atmosphere. Cassini's final orbits allowed the instruments to collect particles in the circular environment, discovering that the influx of water and other materials is much heavier than expected.
"For her latest adventure, Cassini has plunged into the unknown region between Saturn's rings and its atmosphere," said Dr. Kelly Mill, of the … read more
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