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About Saturn & Its Moons

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Magnetosphere - Science Objectives

Saturn's Polar Aurora
Saturn's polar aurora glows against heat from the planet's interior in infrared light
Cassini's Equinox Mission science objectives for Saturn's magnetosphere are listed below.

Objectives related to seasonal change in the Saturn System:

• Determine temporal variability of Enceladus' plumes.
• Observe Saturn's magnetosphere over a solar cycle, from one solar minimum to the next.
• Observe seasonal variation of Titan's ionosphere, from one Solstice to the next.

Objectives related to new questions raised during Cassini's primary mission:

• Determine the dynamics of Saturn's magnetotail.
• Conduct in situ studies of Saturn's ionosphere.
• Investigate magnetospheric periodicities, their coupling to the ionosphere, and how SKR period is imposed from close to planet (3-5 Rs) out to deep tail.
• Determine the coupling between Saturn's rings and ionosphere.