University of Kansas X-Ray Emission in the Solar System

(DRAFT) X-Ray Emission from Comets and Planets T. E. Cravens

Image: Jovian soft X-rays from ROSAT; courtesy of J. H. Waite.

Summary

Soft X-ray emission in the solar system was reviewed in this paper. Both the observations and emission mechanisms were discussed. Predictions were made for X-ray emission from Venus, Mars, and the heliosphere. X-ray observations of solar system objects is now becoming an important diagnostic tool for understanding physical processes operating at these objects, such as particle precipitation at Jupiter or the solar wind interaction with comets. The launch of NASA's Chandra X-ray observatory, which will be able to make high spectral resolution observations, should give further impetus to this field.

References

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Last modified January 8, 2004 Tizby Hunt-Ward tizby@ku.edu