An X-ray measurement of Titan's atmospheric extent from its transit of the Crab Nebula

Koji Mori; Hiroshi Tsunemi; Haruyoshi Katayama; David N. Burrows; Gordon P. Garmire; Albert E. Metzger

doi:10.1086/383521

An X-ray measurement of Titan's atmospheric extent from its transit of the Crab Nebula

Koji Mori, Hiroshi Tsunemi, Haruyoshi Katayama, David N. Burrows, Gordon P. Garmire, Albert E. Metzger

Astronomy & Astrophysics

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

11 Scopus citations

Abstract

Saturn's largest satellite, Titan, transited the Crab Nebula on 2003 January 5. We observed this astronomical event with the Chandra X-Ray Observatory. An "occultation shadow" has clearly been detected and is found to be larger than the diameter of Titan's solid surface. The difference gives a thickness for Titan's atmosphere of 880 ± 60 km. This is the first measurement of Titan's atmospheric extent at X-ray wavelengths. The value measured is consistent with or slightly larger than those estimated from earlier Voyager observations at other wavelengths. We discuss the possibility of temporal variations in the thickness of Titan's atmosphere.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	1065-1069
Number of pages	5
Journal	Astrophysical Journal
Volume	607
Issue number	2 I
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1086/383521
State	Published - Jun 1 2004

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

Astronomy and Astrophysics
Space and Planetary Science

Access to Document

10.1086/383521

Cite this

@article{4b64b3841dcf4d4d9d20d5eb8f747b85,

title = "An X-ray measurement of Titan's atmospheric extent from its transit of the Crab Nebula",

abstract = "Saturn's largest satellite, Titan, transited the Crab Nebula on 2003 January 5. We observed this astronomical event with the Chandra X-Ray Observatory. An {"}occultation shadow{"} has clearly been detected and is found to be larger than the diameter of Titan's solid surface. The difference gives a thickness for Titan's atmosphere of 880 ± 60 km. This is the first measurement of Titan's atmospheric extent at X-ray wavelengths. The value measured is consistent with or slightly larger than those estimated from earlier Voyager observations at other wavelengths. We discuss the possibility of temporal variations in the thickness of Titan's atmosphere.",

author = "Koji Mori and Hiroshi Tsunemi and Haruyoshi Katayama and Burrows, {David N.} and Garmire, {Gordon P.} and Metzger, {Albert E.}",

year = "2004",

month = jun,

day = "1",

doi = "10.1086/383521",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "607",

pages = "1065--1069",

journal = "Astrophysical Journal",

issn = "0004-637X",

publisher = "American Astronomical Society",

number = "2 I",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - An X-ray measurement of Titan's atmospheric extent from its transit of the Crab Nebula

AU - Mori, Koji

AU - Tsunemi, Hiroshi

AU - Katayama, Haruyoshi

AU - Burrows, David N.

AU - Garmire, Gordon P.

AU - Metzger, Albert E.

PY - 2004/6/1

Y1 - 2004/6/1

N2 - Saturn's largest satellite, Titan, transited the Crab Nebula on 2003 January 5. We observed this astronomical event with the Chandra X-Ray Observatory. An "occultation shadow" has clearly been detected and is found to be larger than the diameter of Titan's solid surface. The difference gives a thickness for Titan's atmosphere of 880 ± 60 km. This is the first measurement of Titan's atmospheric extent at X-ray wavelengths. The value measured is consistent with or slightly larger than those estimated from earlier Voyager observations at other wavelengths. We discuss the possibility of temporal variations in the thickness of Titan's atmosphere.

AB - Saturn's largest satellite, Titan, transited the Crab Nebula on 2003 January 5. We observed this astronomical event with the Chandra X-Ray Observatory. An "occultation shadow" has clearly been detected and is found to be larger than the diameter of Titan's solid surface. The difference gives a thickness for Titan's atmosphere of 880 ± 60 km. This is the first measurement of Titan's atmospheric extent at X-ray wavelengths. The value measured is consistent with or slightly larger than those estimated from earlier Voyager observations at other wavelengths. We discuss the possibility of temporal variations in the thickness of Titan's atmosphere.

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=3242687206&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=3242687206&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1086/383521

DO - 10.1086/383521

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:3242687206

SN - 0004-637X

VL - 607

SP - 1065

EP - 1069

JO - Astrophysical Journal

JF - Astrophysical Journal

IS - 2 I

ER -

An X-ray measurement of Titan's atmospheric extent from its transit of the Crab Nebula

Abstract

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this