The BVRI and methane lightcurve of Triton in 2003

Details The BVRI and methane lightcurve of Triton in 2003 The BVRI and methane lightcurve of Triton in 2003

Dec 2003

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2003dps....35.1505s&link_type=abstract

American Astronomical Society, DPS meeting #35, #15.05; Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, Vol. 35, p.1483

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astronomy

1

Scientific paper

Photometric measurements of Triton in the BVRI and 890 nm filter system were obtained in June, July, and (tentatively) early August 2003. The motivation for these measurements was to confirm the recent observation that the lightcurve of Triton has increased markedly in amplitude (Cobb et al. B.A.A.S 33, 1130 (2001)). If the albedo patterns on Triton remained unchanged since the Voyager encounter in 1989, the current amplitude of Triton's visual lightcurve should be less than 0.05 magnitudes (Hillier et al., JGR 96, 19211). Measurements in 2001 showed an amplitude of nearly 0.20 magnitudes (Cobb et al., op. cit.), indicating volatile transport on the surface. Changes in Triton's color (Hicks et al., 2003, accepted for publication in Icarus), and atmospheric pressure and temperature (Elliot et al., Icarus 148, 347 (2000)) also support the existence of sublimation and possible movement of volatiles and associated changes in albedo patterns. The preliminary analysis of data from the summer of 2003 shows a visual amplitude of 0.17 +/- 0.05 magnitudes, in good agreement with the results from 2001, and far larger than that expected if there were no change in the albedo patterns on Triton's surface.
Work carried out at Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Inst. of Technology, with funding from NASA.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

The BVRI and methane lightcurve of Triton in 2003 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 The BVRI and methane lightcurve of Triton in 2003, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and The BVRI and methane lightcurve of Triton in 2003 will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-878760