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Enceladus' Damascus Sulci

Dr Carly Howett

Associate Professor of Space Instrumentation

Research theme

  • Exoplanets and planetary physics

Sub department

  • Atmospheric, Oceanic and Planetary Physics

Research groups

  • Planetary surfaces
  • Solar system
  • Space instrumentation
carly.howett@physics.ox.ac.uk
Atmospheric Physics Clarendon Laboratory
  • About
  • Publications

Charon’s refractory factory

Science Advances American Association for the Advancement of Science 8:24 (2022) eabq5701

Authors:

Ujjwal Raut, Benjamin D Teolis, Joshua A Kammer, Caleb J Gimar, Joshua S Brody, G Randall Gladstone, Carly JA Howett, Silvia Protopapa, Kurt D Retherford

Abstract:

We combine novel laboratory experiments and exospheric modeling to reveal that “dynamic” Ly-α photolysis of Plutonian methane generates a photolytic refractory distribution on Charon that increases with latitude, consistent with poleward darkening observed in the New Horizons images. The flux ratio of the condensing methane to the interplanetary medium Ly-α photons, φ, controls the distribution and composition of Charon’s photoproducts. Mid-latitude regions are likely to host complex refractories emerging from low-φ photolysis, while high-φ photolysis at the polar zones primarily generate ethane. However, ethane being colorless does not contribute to the reddish polar hue. Solar wind radiolysis of Ly-α–cooked polar frost past spring sunrise may synthesize increasingly complex, redder refractories responsible for the unique albedo on this enigmatic moon.
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A Near-surface Temperature Model of Arrokoth

The Planetary Science Journal American Astronomical Society 3:5 (2022) 110

Authors:

Orkan M Umurhan, William M Grundy, Michael K Bird, Ross Beyer, James T Keane, Ivan R Linscott, Samuel Birch, Carver Bierson, Leslie A Young, S Alan Stern, Carey M Lisse, Carly JA Howett, Silvia Protopapa, John R Spencer, Richard P Binzel, William B McKinnon, Tod R Lauer, Harold A Weaver, Catherine B Olkin, Kelsi N Singer, Anne J Verbiscer, Alex H Parker
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Sub-field of view surface thermal modeling of Cassini CIRS observations of Rhea during south polar winter

Icarus Elsevier 377 (2022) 114910

Authors:

Georgina Miles, Carly JA Howett, John Spencer, Paul Schenk
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Extreme exospheric dynamics at Charon: Implications for the red spot

Geophysical Research Letters Wiley 49:8 (2022) e2021GL097580

Authors:

B Teolis, U Raut, Ja Kammer, Cj Gimar, Cja Howett, Gr Gladstone, Kd Retherford

Abstract:

Charon's exosphere may exhibit extreme seasonal dynamics, with centuries of quiescence punctuated by short lived (∼4 earth years) exospheric surges near the equinoxes, as spring sunrise bi-annually drives frozen methane off the polar night zones. Charon's pole-centric red spot has been proposed to be the product of Ly-α photolysis of frozen methane into refractory hydrocarbon “tholins”, but the role of exospheric dynamics in the red material's formation has not been investigated. We show with exospheric modeling that methane “polar-swap”, in which exospheric CH4 sublimated from the spring polar zone is rapidly re-frozen onto the autumn hemisphere, deposits ∼30 μm polar frosts too thick for Ly-α light to penetrate. Ethane, the primary methane photoproduct under these conditions, may unlike methane remain frozen decades after polar sunrise under solar wind exposure. Solar wind radiolysis of polar ethane frost synthesizes higher-order refractories that may contribute to the coloration of Charon's polar zones.
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Hypotheses for Triton's plumes: New analyses and future remote sensing tests

Icarus Elsevier 375 (2022) 114835

Authors:

Jason D Hofgartner, Samuel PD Birch, Julie Castillo, Will M Grundy, Candice J Hansen, Alexander G Hayes, Carly JA Howett, Terry A Hurford, Emily S Martin, Karl L Mitchell, Tom A Nordheim, Michael J Poston, Louise M Prockter, Lynnae C Quick, Paul Schenk, Rebecca N Schindhelm, Orkan M Umurhan
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