Other
Scientific paper
Nov 2007
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2007sptz.prop..467h&link_type=abstract
Spitzer Proposal ID #467
Other
Scientific paper
The next apparition of the view of Uranus on the Equinox, occurs this year on UT 2007 December 7 (the last equinox was 1965; the next will be in 2049). Because of its unique (in the solar system) axis tilt with respect to its orbit, Uranus offers us a spectacular opportunity to witness the dramatic changes in a giant planetary atmosphere caused by the transition from hemispheric heating to pole-to-pole diurnal heating. Based on recent ground-based and space-based (Hubble Space Telescope) images and spectra, we know that the atmosphere has developed complex structures that change on week timescales and were not present at all during the southern hemisphere solstice in 1986! Despite this unique and exciting development, mid-IR spectra covering sufficient wavelengths to fully probe the evolution of molecular chemistry in the atmosphere are extremely rare. Many major observatories across the world and HST plan to observe Uranus at equinox. However, there are currently no plans to observe this event with Spitzer. Even though a moderate S/N spectrum taken across the entire 5-35 micron band-pass with IRS was obtained in 2005, this observation is too remote in time from the equinox for direct comparison with the flood of data to be obtained at other wavelengths within the next couple of months. Therefore, we propose to obtain IRS low- and high-resolution spectra of Uranus at its equinox. The DDT mechanism is appropriate for this proposal, since a Cycle 5 program, even if selected, could not be scheduled until mid-2008 at best. The proposed IRS spectra, contemporaneous with the other efforts, will provide a multi-wavelength picture of the state of the Uranus atmosphere at equinox. This legacy-class data set will provide a lasting contribution for comparison with historical and future observations. This opportunity will not come again for 42 years, and given the recent development of exo-solar comparative planetology, can provide crucial data for modeling the atmosphere of Uranus and its cousins in other solar systems.
Burgdorf Martin
Hammel Heidi
Hines Dean
Mainzer Amy
Moses Julianne
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