IUE monitoring of the spatial distribution of the H Ly. cap alpha. emission from Jupiter

Journal Article · Fri May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1981 · Astrophys. J., Lett. Ed.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/183540· OSTI ID:6337641

Clarke, J T; Moos, H W; Feldman, P D

North-south spatial maps of the Jovian H Ly..cap alpha.. emission observed with the IUE satellite support the identification of a marked longitudinal asymmetry in the equatorial brightness, with the peak around lambda/sub i/II(1965) = 50/sup 0/-100/sup 0/ longitude, and show a weaker planet-wide equatorial brightening above the level predicted by a plane-parallel layer model. IUE observations made 18 months after the initial discovery of the localized emission bulge establish that it is fixed with respect to Jupiter's magnetic longitude (lambda/sub i/II system) and not with respect to atmospheric longitude (lambda/sub i/II system). In addition, a decrease in brightness of approx.20% in the region of the emission bulge has been observed over a 1 yr interval, while the rest of the planet remained roughly constant in brightness. This decrease is more than would be expected as a result of changes in the incident solar Ly..cap alpha.. flux, indicating a real decrease in reflectivity in this region of Jupiter's upper atmosphere.

• Research Organization: Department of Physics, The Johns Hopkins University
• OSTI ID: 6337641
• Journal Information: Astrophys. J., Lett. Ed.; (United States), Journal Name: Astrophys. J., Lett. Ed.; (United States) Vol. 245:3; ISSN AJLEA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640107* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Planetary Phenomena
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ATMOSPHERES
DISTRIBUTION
ELEMENTS
EMISSION SPECTRA
HYDROGEN
JUPITER PLANET
LYMAN LINES
NONMETALS
PLANETARY ATMOSPHERES
PLANETS
SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION
SPECTRA
ULTRAVIOLET SPECTRA