X-rays from Venus discovered with Chandra

Details X-rays from Venus discovered with Chandra X-rays from Venus discovered with Chandra

Jan 2002

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2002aspc..262...21d&link_type=abstract

The High Energy Universe at Sharp Focus: Chandra Science, held in conjunction with the 113th Annual Meeting of the ASP. ASP Conf

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astronomy

Scientific paper

In January 10-13, 2001, Venus was observed for the first time with an X-ray astronomy satellite. The observation, performed with the ACIS-I and ACIS-S/LETG instruments on Chandra, yielded data of high spatial, spectral, and temporal resolution. Venus was observed at an elongation of 47 degrees and a phase angle of 86 degrees. At a geocentric distance of 0.72 AU, the apparent diameter of the planet was 23 arcsec. In X-rays Venus is clearly detected as a half-lit crescent, with considerable brightening on the sunward limb. The morphology agrees well with that expected from fluorescent scattering of solar X-rays in the planetary atmosphere. The emission is observed at discrete energies, mainly at the oxygen K-alpha energy of 0.53 keV. Emission is also detected from carbon K-alpha at 0.28 keV and, marginally, from nitrogen K-alpha at 0.39 keV. The X-ray flux was variable by up to a factor of five on time scales of minutes. All these findings are fully consistent with fluorescent scattering of solar X-rays. No other source of X-ray emission is detected, in particular none from charge exchange interactions between highly charged heavy solar wind ions and atmospheric neutrals, the process which causes cometary X-ray emission.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

X-rays from Venus discovered with Chandra 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 X-rays from Venus discovered with Chandra, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and X-rays from Venus discovered with Chandra will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1087771