|
|
| A Spectroscopic Search for Jupiter's Chromophores |
| Presentation Time: Monday, 3:15 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. |
Paul D. Strycker1, N. Chanover1, M. Sussman1, A. Simon-Miller2
1New Mexico State Univ., 2NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center. |
| Presentation Number: 11.15 |
Despite many decades of ground-based, space-based, and in situ observations of Jupiter's atmosphere, the chemical agent(s) responsible for the varying colors seen in visible images of Jupiter remain unidentified. Spatially resolved high spectral resolution observations are needed to isolate different colored regions on the planet in order to identify these chromophores. Towards this end, we present the analysis of observations of Jupiter acquired on 13 April and 02 July 2006 with the Apache Point Observatory echelle spectrograph (R = 37500), which has a spectral coverage of 3500 - 10000 Angstroms. We used a 1.6 x 1.6 arcsecond slit to target regions that differ in color: the Great Red Spot (GRS), North Equatorial Belt (NEB), North Tropical Zone (NTrZ), South Tropical Zone (STrZ), Equatorial Zone (EZ), and the recently reddened Oval BA. The spectral characteristics of the white regions (NTrZ, STrZ, EZ) are compared with those of the reddish regions (GRS, NEB, BA). All regions are compared with the spectra of several possible chromophores, including ammonium hydrosulfide ice (NH4SH) and phosphorus and sulfur compounds. Differences between the telescopic observations and laboratory measurements are discussed.
This work was supported by the New Mexico State University Research Cluster Minigrant Program. |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Online Abstract Submission and Invitation System
© 1996 - 2010 Coe-Truman Technologies, Inc. All rights reserved.
|
|
|
|
|
|
