Exploring the Magnetospheres of Giant Planets

Abstract: The 'Gas Giants' of our Solar System, Jupiter and Saturn, possess the strongest magnetic fields and also have magnetospheres dominated by a giant, rotating disc of plasma, often referred to as the 'magnetodisc'. Furthermore, both systems have 'mass engines' which drive their magnetospheres - these take the form of the volcanic moon Io, and the icy moon Eneceladus. In this talk, we look at some modeling and observations of the magnetodisc regions of these planetary systems, and look at the lessons we have learned about how moons, magnetodiscs and their parent planets' aurorae are physically, and electromagnetically, connected. We also briefly describe the aims of missions such as JUICE (JUpiter ICy moon Explorer), which is en route to the Jovian system at present and will be the first-ever dedicated orbiter of a moon in the Solar System — Jupiter's icy moon, Ganymede.