A regular period for Saturn's magnetic field that may track its internal rotation

G. Giampieri (), M. K. Dougherty, E. J. Smith and C. T. Russell
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G. Giampieri: California Institute of Technology
M. K. Dougherty: Imperial College London
E. J. Smith: California Institute of Technology
C. T. Russell: UCLA Institute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics

Nature, 2006, vol. 441, issue 7089, 62-64

Abstract: A day on Saturn The absence of a visible solid surface and close alignment of the magnetic field and rotational axis mean that for Saturn, the two best ways of measuring planetary rotation are not available. So Saturn's exact rotation rate is a mystery. The Cassini orbiter provided a detailed map of Saturn's magnetic field, and this has been used to identify an oscillation in the magnetic field with a well-defined period of about 10 hours 47 minutes. The stability of this periodicity over 14 months of observation suggests that it is related to the rotation of Saturn's interior. The nature of the link is not clear, but this is the best estimate yet for Saturn's day length.

Date: 2006
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DOI: 10.1038/nature04750

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