Physics
Scientific paper
Jul 2007
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2007hst..prop11118s&link_type=abstract
HST Proposal ID #11118. Cycle 16
Physics
Scientific paper
Uranus is approaching its 7 December 2007 equinox, when we will be able to observe the entire northern hemisphere for the first time with modern cameras. The large seasonal phase shift expected from its long radiative time constant implies that it should now exhibit nearly maximal hemispheric contrast, and should be in the process of reversing. Many changes already observed, such as the development of the first visible-wavelength dark spot, discovered in Cycle 15, and the fading of the south polar cap may be indicative of the expected reversal. We propose a detailed characterization of Uranus' current seasonal response with a 7-orbit program consisting of 1 orbit of NICMOS imaging of cloud bands and 6 orbits of WFPC2 imaging using both broadband and narrow-band filters capable of tracking dark and bright discrete cloud features. Filters between 0.467 and 1.87 microns will provide vertical sensing depths scanning through the pressure range where the putative methane and deeper H2S clouds might plausibly exist and provide strong constraints on their contributions and parent gas mixing ratios. These observations have unique combinations of spectral range and resolution with needed temporal and spatial resolution not available from groundbased observations. Only HST is capable of investigating the Uranus dark spot.;
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