Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy
Scientific paper
Sep 1996
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1996dps....28.2316s&link_type=abstract
American Astronomical Society, DPS meeting #28, #23.16; Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, Vol. 28, p.1155
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astronomy
Scientific paper
In 1990 we began a program of observations of [Oi]6300 Angstroms emission from Io's vicinity, using the stellar echelle spectrograph at the McMath-Pierce telescope on Kitt Peak. Spectra of Io have been obtained at a typical spectral resolving power of ~ 1.2 x 10(5) . The viewing aperture was 5farcs2 x 5farcs2 , centered on Io, and the integration time for a spectrum was usually 10--15 minutes. We have acquired about 250 raw spectra since 1990, and the data are being reduced and analyzed. Preliminary results from the early observations were presented by Scherb and Smyth [JGR 98, 18729 (1993)]. The [Oi]6300 Angstroms emission from Io may be produced in part by the interaction of Io's atmosphere with plasma torus electrons and possibly also by processes analogous to terrestrial aurora associated with electric currents linking Io to Jupiter's ionosphere. The emission is highly variable, and a careful study will be necessary to distinguish the different possible sources of excitation. We have a tentative indication that the System III dependence of the emission is not consistent with an interaction between Io and the plasma torus as the dominant source of the emission. A larger set of reduced data will be presented and their implications discussed. This work was carried out with support from NASA grant NAGW-3319 and NASA contracts NAS 5-30131 and NASW-4804.
Retherford Kurt
Scherb Frank
Smyth William H.
Woodward R. C.
No associations
LandOfFree
Observations of [OI]6300 Angstroms Emission from Io's Atmosphere does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.
If you have personal experience with Observations of [OI]6300 Angstroms Emission from Io's Atmosphere, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Observations of [OI]6300 Angstroms Emission from Io's Atmosphere will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1462555