Longitudinal mapping of the Saturn's F-ring

• Grant number: 11/19341-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: December 01, 2011
• End date: November 30, 2012
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Astronomy - Solar System Astronomy
• Principal Investigator: Rafael Sfair de Oliveira
• Grantee: Rodrigo Teixeira Figueira
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Engenharia (FEG). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Guaratinguetá. Guaratinguetá , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Since it was discovered, the F-ring of Saturn has been extensively studied due to its peculiar structures, such as braids, gaps, and strands. These features made the ring one of the main targets for the Cassini spacecraft cameras. The goal of this work is to create a longitudinal map of the F-ring based on a sequence of images taken by the spacecraft. The images will be navigated in order to determine the radial and azimuthal position of the ring in each frame, and then this information will be used to properly shift and add the images resulting in a complete panorama of the ring.(AU)