Modelling Ganymede’s Aurora

Abstract: A 3D model of Ganymede’s aurora is created using captured data from the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (STIS), on board the Hubble Space Telescope (HST). The data is processed into 24 images and analyzed. A 3D grid is generated around the moon to implement a functional model to describe the aurora. The model is derived using the information learned from the HST data processing and analysis. The model assigned an emission rate for the aurora throughout the 3D grid. The model is integrated along the xy-plane to produce projections for comparison with the processed HST data. A χ2 test is used to determine the quantitative accuracy of the model. To lower χ2, the parameters of the model are optimized with a Nelder-Mead Simplex algorithm and smoothing filters are applied to the processed HST data. The project resulted in a model with comparable 2D projections in relation to the given HST data.