Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy
Scientific paper
Sep 2006
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2006dps....38.1135m&link_type=abstract
American Astronomical Society, DPS meeting #38, #11.35; Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, Vol. 38, p.502
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astronomy
Scientific paper
Neptune's spectrum is strongly dominated by hydrocarbon products of the photodissociation of CH4. However, the influx of oxygen from micrometeorite ablation alters upper atmosphere photochemistry, and oxygen-bearing compounds such as CO, H2O and CO2 have been previously discovered in its spectrum. To search for new hydrocarbons and oxygen-bearing compounds to constrain chemical models for Neptune, we present the first mid-infrared spectra of Neptune taken with the Spitzer Space Telescope. These data were taken in May of 2004 and provide complete longitudinal coverage in both epochs. These high S/N data span the spectral region 5.2 to 37 μm, with low-resolution spectra of R 64-128 in the range 5.2 to 15 μm, and moderate- resolution spectra of R 600 in the range 10-37 μm. In addition to verifying the previous ground-based and ISO detections of CH4, C2H2, C2H4, C2H6, CH3D, CH3, H2, HD and CO2, we report the discovery of methylacetylene (CH3C2H) and diacetylene (C4H2), with 0.1-mbar volume mixing ratios of 1x10-10 and 3 x 10-12 . We will also report on our search for oxygen-bearing compounds. These new compounds can be used to constrain existing models of the photochemistry of the Neptune atmosphere, and the properties and influx of extraplanetary material.
This work is based on observations made with the Spitzer Space Telescope, which is operated by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology under a contract with NASA. Support for this work was provided by NASA through the Spitzer Science Center.
Burgdorf Martin
Crisp Dave
Houck John
Liang Mao-Chang
Meadows Victoria
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