A Beam of Electrons Linking Saturn and Enceladus (IMAGE)

University College London

A Beam of Electrons Linking Saturn and Enceladus

Caption

The green line provides an approximate trace of the magnetic field lines connecting Saturn's ionosphere with Enceladus and its south polar plume of gas and icy grains. The inset shows the electron beam viewed by CAPS-ELS during Cassini's encounter with Enceladus on Oct. 31, 2008. The centering of the electron beam on the position of the magnetic field (asterix) indicates that the electrons are flowing parallel to the local magnetic field.

Credit

Geraint Jones, UCL

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