THE SHADOW OF TITAN AND MIMAS ON SATURN'S RINGS



W.B.Hubbard(1), G.J.Consomagno SJ (1,2), R.P.Boyle SJ(2), R.Hill(1), 1.Lunar & Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721 2.Vatican Observatory Research Group, Steward Observatory, University of Arizona, Tucson AZ 85721






We observed the Saturn system on November 7-9, 1995, at the Vatican
Advanced Technology Telescope (VATT) on Mt. Graham, Arizona, using the
portable CCD (PCCD) fast occultation imaging system of the University
of Arizona. Along with imaging seven of Saturn's moons, we recorded a
rare mutual event on the evening of November 9 (4:25 UT November 10)
where sunlight at the Saturnian moon Mimas was eclipsed by Titan. The
shadows of Rhea and Titan were also seen moving across the rings of
Saturn itself. analyzing the change in brightness in this shadow during
these events may provide information about the structure ot Titan's
atmosphere, and the precise timing of the shadow-Mimas even will give
improved precision to the ephemeris of Mimas' orbit.