A statistical analysis of the location and width of Saturn's aurora, and implications for magnetospheric dynamics

We present the results of a statistical analysis of the location of commonly-occurring auroral features in Saturn's southern polar ionosphere. Using a magnetospheric model, modified for Saturn from a data-based terrestrial model (Tsyganenko, 1996), we estimate the region in the equatorial plane of the outer magnetosphere that maps to the observed aurora. We then discuss the possible magnetospheric processes that may cause these auroral emissions.