HST Imaging of Neptune in 1994-1996 at Multiple Wavelengths

Details HST Imaging of Neptune in 1994-1996 at Multiple Wavelengths HST Imaging of Neptune in 1994-1996 at Multiple Wavelengths

Jun 1996

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1996dps....28.0504h&link_type=abstract

American Astronomical Society, DPS meeting #28, #05.04; Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, Vol. 28, p.1077

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astronomy

1

Scientific paper

Recent Hubble Space Telescope imaging of the atmosphere of Neptune (obtained in 1994, 1995, and 1996) reveals continuing changes in the number and distribution of discrete features. GDS-94, a northern hemisphere dark spot detected in 1994 (Hammel et al. 1995, Science 268, 1740) may still have been detectable in 1995 and possibly 1996: features similar in contrast and location to GDS-94 were seen, though they were smaller and rounder. In 1995 and 1996, the northern hemisphere high-altitude methane clouds were fainter than those seen in 1994, with contrast about one third less. The structure seen in 1994 was striking both in brightness and in distribution across latitudes (perhaps indicative of large-scale planetary wave structure). Using meridional scans of Voyager and Hubble images, we discuss the meridional mean photometric profiles and changes that have occurred between 1989 and 1994-1996. The underlying zonal structure was similar in all three years of Hubble imaging, but differed from that seen by Voyager. At blue wavelengths, a dark band was seen from -45deg to -70deg in 1989 (Smith et al. 1989, Science 246, 1422); we now see a narrower band from -50deg to -65deg . Furthermore, at 619 nm, a latitude that was "active" (i.e., bright clouds were frequently detected) in 1989 Voyager images, -21deg , is now quiet (no clouds detected). In the newer HST imaging, two different latitudes, -28deg and -45deg , are currently "active" at this wavelength. We confirm the general shape and stability of the zonal wind profile measured by Voyager (Limaye and Sromovsky 1989, JGR 96, 18941), filling in some latitudes where no clouds had previously been seen.

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