Masters, A. and Achilleos, Nick and Agnor, C.B. and Campagnola, S. and Charnoz, S. and Christophe, B. and Coates, Andrew J. and Fletcher, L.N. and Jones, Geraint H. and Lamy, L. and Marzari, F. and Nettelmann, N. and Ruiz, J. and Ambrosi, R. and Andre, N. and Bhardwaj, A. and Fortney, J.J. and Hansen, C.J. and Helled, R. and Moragas-Klostermeyer, G. and Orton, G. and Ray, Licia and Reynaud, S. and Sergis, N. and Srama, R. and Volwerk, M. (2014) Neptune and triton: essential pieces of the solar system puzzle. Planetary and Space Science 104A , pp. 108-121. ISSN 0032-0633.
Abstract
The planet Neptune and its largest moon Triton hold the keys to major advances across multiple fields of Solar System science. The ice giant Neptune played a unique and important role in the process of Solar System formation, has the most meteorologically active atmosphere in the Solar System (despite its great distance from the Sun), and may be the best Solar System analogue of the dominant class of exoplanets detected to date. Neptune's moon Triton is very likely a captured Kuiper Belt object, holding the answers to questions about the icy dwarf planets that formed in the outer Solar System. Triton is geologically active, has a tenuous nitrogen atmosphere, and is predicted to have a subsurface ocean. However, our exploration of the Neptune system remains limited to a single spacecraft flyby, made by Voyager 2 in 1989. Here, we present the high-level science case for further exploration of this outermost planetary system, based on a white paper submitted to the European Space Agency (ESA) for the definition of the second and third large missions in the ESA Cosmic Vision Programme 2015–2025. We discuss all the major science themes that are relevant for further spacecraft exploration of the Neptune system, and identify key scientific questions in each area. We present an overview of the results of a European-led Neptune orbiter mission analysis. Such a mission has significant scope for international collaboration, and is essential to achieve our aim of understanding how the Solar System formed, and how it works today.
Metadata
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Keyword(s) / Subject(s): | Neptune, Triton, Solar System exploration |
| School: | Birkbeck Faculties and Schools > Faculty of Science > School of Natural Sciences |
| Depositing User: | Administrator |
| Date Deposited: | 10 Jun 2014 12:41 |
| Last Modified: | 02 Aug 2023 17:11 |
| URI: | https://eprints.bbk.ac.uk/id/eprint/9916 |
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