Search Publications
Comparison of line-by-line and band models of near-IR methane absorption applied to outer planet atmospheres
Sromovsky, L. A.; Fry, P. M.; Boudon, V. +2 more
Recent improvements in high spectral resolution measurements of methane absorption at wavenumbers between 4800 cm-1 and 7919 cm-1 have greatly increased the number of lines with known lower state energies, the number of weak lines, and the number of lines observed at low temperatures (Campargue, A., Wang, L., Kassi, S., Mašát…
Physical properties of trans-neptunian binaries (120347) Salacia-Actaea and (42355) Typhon-Echidna
Buie, M. W.; Rieke, G. H.; Roe, H. G. +7 more
We report new Hubble Space Telescope and Spitzer Space Telescope results concerning the physical properties of the trans-neptunian object (TNO) binaries (120347) Salacia-Actaea (formerly 2004 SB60), and (42355) Typhon-Echidna (formerly 2002 CR46). The mass of the (120347) Salacia-Actaea system is 4.66 ± 0.22 × 1020…
The 2009-2010 fade of Jupiter's South Equatorial Belt: Vertical cloud structure models and zonal winds from visible imaging
Sánchez-Lavega, A.; Rojas, J. F.; Pérez-Hoyos, S. +3 more
The South Equatorial Belt (SEB) of Jupiter is known to alternate its appearance at visible wavelengths from a classical belt-like band most of the time to a short-lived zone-like aspect which is called a "fade" of the belt, hereafter SEBF. The albedo change of the SEB is due to a change in the structure and properties of the clouds and upper hazes…
Ground-based observations of the long-term evolution and death of Saturn's 2010 Great White Spot
Hueso, Ricardo; del Río-Gaztelurrutia, Teresa; Sánchez-Lavega, Agustín +8 more
We report on the long-term evolution of Saturn's sixth Great White Spot (GWS) event that initiated at northern mid-latitudes of the planet on December 5th, 2010 (Fletcher, L. et al. [2011]. Science 332, 1413-1417; Sánchez-Lavega, A. et al. [2011]. Nature 475, 71-74; Fischer, G. et al. [2011]. Nature 475, 75-77). We find from ground-based observati…
Episodic bright and dark spots on Uranus
Sromovsky, L. A.; Fry, P. M.; Hueso, R. +14 more
The northern mid-latitudes of Uranus produce greater episodes of bright cloud formation than any other region on the planet. Near 30°N, very bright cloud features were observed in 1999, 2004, and 2005, with lifetimes of the order of months. In October 2011, Gemini and HST observations revealed another unusually bright cloud feature near 23°N, whic…
Mutual events in the Cold Classical transneptunian binary system Sila and Nunam
Buie, M. W.; Rabinowitz, D. L.; Grundy, W. M. +9 more
Hubble Space Telescope observations between 2001 and 2010 resolved the binary components of the Cold Classical transneptunian object (79360) Sila-Nunam (provisionally designated 1997 CS29). From these observations we have determined the circular, retrograde mutual orbit of Nunam relative to Sila with a period of 12.50995 ± 0.00036 days …
Post-equinox dynamics and polar cloud structure on Uranus
Sromovsky, L. A.; Fry, P. M.; Hammel, H. B. +2 more
Post equinox imaging of Uranus by HST, Keck, and Gemini telescopes has enabled new measurements of winds over previously sampled latitudes as well as measurements at high northern latitudes that have recently come into better view. These new observations also used techniques to greatly improve signal to noise ratios, making possible the detection …
Characterizing Io’s Pele, Tvashtar and Pillan plumes: Lessons learned from Hubble
Spencer, John R.; Jessup, Kandis Lea
Hubble Space Telescope/Wide Field and Planetary Camera 2 (HST/WFPC2) images of Io obtained between 1995 and 2007 between 0.24 and 0.42 µm led to the detection of the Pele plume in reflected sunlight in 1995 and 1999; imaging of the Pele plume via absorption of jovian light in 1996 and 1999; detection of the Prometheus-type Pillan plume in re…
Illumination conditions at the Asteroid 4 Vesta: Implications for the presence of water ice
Stubbs, Timothy J.; Wang, Yongli
The mean illumination conditions and surface temperatures over one orbital period are calculated for the Asteroid 4 Vesta using a coarse digital elevation model produced from Hubble Space Telescope images. Even with the anticipated effects of finer-scale topography taken into account, it is unlikely that any significant permanently shadowed region…
UV spectrum of Enceladus
Noll, Keith S.; Clarke, John T.; Hendrix, Amanda R. +1 more
We present a far ultraviolet (FUV) spectrum of Saturn’s moon Enceladus from the Cosmic Origins Spectrograph (COS) on the Hubble Space Telescope (HST). We have put upper limits on emission from C, N, and O lines in Enceladus’ atmosphere and column densities for the C lines assuming solar resonance scattering. We find these upper limits to be relati…