Solar System Science with Chandra

The X-ray astronomy group at MSFC has been on the forefront of scientific investigations of solar system objects using the Chandra X-ray Observatory. This effort has been in collaboration with numerous colleagues in the planetary sciences and has led to our broader interests in various aspects in the development of future planetary and lunar missions.

Here are recent papers on The Discovery of Oxygen Ka X-ray Emission from the Rings of Saturn, on an X-ray Flare at Saturn, a pulsating auroral hot spot on Jupiter, a general review of X-ray emission from Planets, Moons, and Comets, and the discovery of soft X-ray emission from Io, Europa, and the Io Plasma Torus. Other publications can be found on our general publications page. An older HTML summary of analysis of observations of Jupiter is also available.

Research in these areas has led to our involvement with plans for future planetary missions including a concept study for a mission to Jupiter and a design for remote mapping of the lunar surface elements.