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Voyager 2 in the Uranian System: Imaging Science Results

Smith, B. A. and Danielson, G. E. and Dowling, T. E. and Ingersoll, A. P. (1986) Voyager 2 in the Uranian System: Imaging Science Results. Science, 233 (4759). pp. 43-64. ISSN 0036-8075. doi:10.1126/science.233.4759.43. https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechAUTHORS:20130419-145703905

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Abstract

Voyager 2 images of the southern hemisphere of Uranus indicate that submicrometersize haze particles and particles of a methane condensation cloud produce faint patterns in the atmosphere. The alignment of the cloud bands is similar to that of bands on Jupiter and Saturn, but the zonal winds are nearly opposite. At mid-latitudes (-70° to -27°), where winds were measured, the atmosphere rotates faster than the magnetic field; however, the rotation rate of the atmosphere decreases toward the equator, so that the two probably corotate at about -20°. Voyager images confirm the extremely low albedo of the ring particles. High phase angle images reveal on the order of 10^2 new ringlike features of very low optical depth and relatively high dust abundance interspersed within the main rings, as well as a broad, diffuse, low optical depth ring just inside the main rings system. Nine of the newly discovered small satellites (40 to 165 kilometers in diameter) orbit between the rings and Miranda; the tenth is within the ring system. Two of these small objects may gravitationally confine the e ring. Oberon and Umbriel have heavily cratered surfaces resembling the ancient cratered highlands of Earth's moon, although Umbriel is almost completely covered with uniform dark material, which perhaps indicates some ongoing process. Titania and Ariel show crater populations different from those on Oberon and Umbriel; these were probably generated by collisions with debris confined to their orbits. Titania and Ariel also show many extensional fault systems; Ariel shows strong evidence for the presence of extrusive material. About halfof Miranda's surface is relatively bland, old, cratered terrain. The remainder comprises three large regions of younger terrain, each rectangular to ovoid in plan, that display complex sets of parallel and intersecting scarps and ridges as well as numerous outcrops of bright and dark materials, perhaps suggesting some exotic composition.


Item Type:Article
Related URLs:
URLURL TypeDescription
http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.233.4759.43DOIArticle
http://www.sciencemag.org/content/233/4759/43.abstractPublisherArticle
ORCID:
AuthorORCID
Ingersoll, A. P.0000-0002-2035-9198
Additional Information:© 1986 American Association for the Advancement of Science. Received for publication 8 April 1986. Accepted for publication 5 May 1986. We thank the Voyager spacecraft team for their outstanding efforts in reducing camera smear; A. Hartch for her efforts in preparing the encounter sequence; D. Hinson for his help in the design of the high phase angle ring observation during the limbtrack maneuver; M. Ockert, B. Mostert, J. Gotobed, and B. Owens for valuable technical support; M. Showalter, L. Dones, L. Doyle, J. Spencer, and D. Grinspoon for their assistance during encounter; D. A. Alexander, G. W. Garneau, E. P. Korsmo, S. K. LaVoie, H. B. de Rueda, S. T. Rifke, J. S. Shiflet, C. L. Stanley, E. T. Wachner, and L. A. Wainio,under the able direction of C. C. Avis, for image processing support through the encounter; R. M. Batson, P. M. Bridges, K. Edwards, E. M. Eliason, J. L. Inge, C. E. Isbell, K. F. Mullins, and T. L. Rock for cartographic and image processing support; J. A. Burns, P. Goldreich, F. Shu, P. D. Nicholson, C. Leovy, and D. J. Stevenson for helpful reviews and comments; R. A. Jacobson for assistance in developing the numerically integrated model of the ephemerides of the Uranian satellites and its application to fitting both the long intervals of Earth-based astrometric measurements and the Voyager optical data; R. F. Wolfe for her contributions to calculations of current Uranian cometary fluxes and the early collisional histories for the satellites; J. L. Anderson for coordination of the production of all imaging data products; E. Simien and E. Edwards for maintaining the Voyager Imaging Team data libraries; and D. Weir and S. Bounds for editorial assistance.
Group:UNSPECIFIED, Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences
Issue or Number:4759
DOI:10.1126/science.233.4759.43
Record Number:CaltechAUTHORS:20130419-145703905
Persistent URL:https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechAUTHORS:20130419-145703905
Official Citation:Voyager 2 in the Uranian System: Imaging Science Results B. A. Smith, L. A. Soderblom, R. Beebe, D. Bliss, J. M. Boyce, A. Brahic, G. A. Briggs, R. H. Brown, S. A. Collins, A. F. Cook, S. K. Croft, J. N. Cuzzi, G. E. Danielson, M. E. Davies, T. E. Dowling, D. Godfrey, C. J. Hansen, C. Harris, G. E. Hunt, A. P. Ingersoll, T. V. Johnson, R. J. Krauss, H. Masursky, D. Morrison, T. Owen, J. B. Plescia, J. B. Pollack, C. C. Porco, K. Rages, C. Sagan, E. M. Shoemaker, L. A. Sromovsky, C. Stoker, R. G. Strom, V. E. Suomi, S. P. Synnott, R. J. Terrile, P. Thomas, W. R. Thompson and J. Veverka Science , New Series, Vol. 233, No. 4759 (Jul. 4, 1986), pp. 43-64 Published by: American Association for the Advancement of Science Article Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/1697495
Usage Policy:No commercial reproduction, distribution, display or performance rights in this work are provided.
ID Code:38047
Collection:CaltechAUTHORS
Deposited By: Ruth Sustaita
Deposited On:23 Apr 2013 17:03
Last Modified:09 Nov 2021 23:33

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