Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy
Scientific paper
Dec 2006
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2006aas...20923803h&link_type=abstract
2007 AAS/AAPT Joint Meeting, American Astronomical Society Meeting 209, #238.03; Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society,
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astronomy
Scientific paper
Mid-infrared spectroscopy and imaging of planets is used to characterize both chemistry and dynamics in their atmospheres. I will review highlights from current observational programs studying Neptune and Uranus. For example, a recent assessment of ground-based spectroscopic observations of Neptune has revealed ethane and methane variability over decadal time scales, and has also yielded a detection of ethane on Uranus. Spectral observations with the Spitzer Space Telescope show strong indications for the presence of several new hydrocarbons in Uranus’ atmosphere in addition to ethane, including diacetylene and methylacetylene, along with suggestive evidence of carbon dioxide and cyanoacetylene. Observers at several ground-based facilities, including Gemini, have produced the first mid-infrared images of the outer planets. The distribution of hydrocarbon emission in these images indicates stratospheric dynamical circulation similar to that seen on Saturn. The Uranus data is of special interest due to the planet's equinox, or ring-plane crossing, in 2007 (the last equinox was 1965; the next will be in 2049). HBH's outer planet work is supported in part by NASA grants NAG5-10451, NAG5-11961, and NNG06GI25G.
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