The focus was on the study, via near infrared observations, of the outer planets and their satellites. In the last year, these observations have emphasized imaging observations using the Cassegrain infrared camera at the f/70 focus of the 200 inch Hale telescope

Matthews, K.

Soifer, B. T.

English

NASA Technical Reports Server

N92-12831
Research in Planetary Astronomy
California Institute of Technology
K. Matthews, B. T. Soifer
Strategy
This program has focused on the study via near infrared observations of the outer planets and
their satellites. In the last year these observations have emphasized imaging observations
using the Cassegrain infrared camera at the 1770 focus of the 200 inch Hale telescope.
Progress and Accomplishments
Images have been obtained in the 2.0-2.4 lain atmospheric view of Saturn, Uranus, and
Jupiter. This is a unique window on the outer planets, because the strong methane and
molecular hydrogen absorptions allow us to detect features in the stratosphere of the planets.
From 2.0-2.4 lam Saturn shows a bright band between 25 and 50 degrees north latitude, while
the planetary disk disappears completely at the 2.3 lJm in the depth of the methane band.
The bright band must be due m across)Is in thc atm()spherc of Saturn above the 300 mbar
pressure level.
Uranus remains bland and featureless in the near infrared images. Neptune showed a
previously unobserved haze and a feature prominent in the Voyager visible light images.
Neptune's northern hemisphere sh_)wed a thin haze that is present even in the 2.3 lain images.
This haze must be at a very high altitude because of the strong methane absorption. A bright
feature, believed to be a companic)n t(_ the "Great Dark Spc)t," appears in occasional images in
the southern hemisphere of Neptune.
In addition to the planetary disk images, wc believe that we have reccwered the newly
discovered Neptune satellite 1989 NI in K band images. The t)b.icct is quite faint, K-19 mag.
_3
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19920003613 2020-03-17T14:07:52+00:00Z


Research in planetary Astronomy

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