Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy
Scientific paper
Dec 2006
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2006aas...209.2517h&link_type=abstract
2007 AAS/AAPT Joint Meeting, American Astronomical Society Meeting 209, #25.17; Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, V
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astronomy
Scientific paper
We have obtained the first simultaneous midand near-infrared images of Neptune. With our mid-infrared images (7 and 11.6 microns) taken at the Gemini North 8-meter telescope in July 2005, we identify the two source regions for Neptune's ethane emission: a compact bright region within a few degrees of the south pole and a nearly-uniform bright planetary limb. Upper stratospheric methane emission is also confined to the polar region. This bright pole is the first direct imaging evidence for strong dynamical circulation in the upper stratosphere of Neptune. Our near-infrared images (1.6 and 2.2 microns) with the Keck II 10-meter telescope probe deeper atmospheric levels and show a completely different brightness distribution. The dominant brightness comes from sunlight reflecting from methane-ice clouds in the planet's mid-latitude regions. The two sets of data together demonstrate that the stratospheric ethane and methane emissions are uncorrelated with the deeper tropospheric clouds. HBH acknowledges support for this work from NASA grants NAG5-11961, NAG5-10451, and NNG06GI25G.
de Pater Imke
Geballe Theodore
Hammel Heidi Beth
Lynch David K.
Orton Glenn S.
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