HR: 15:00h
AN: P23A-05    [Abstracts]
TI: Observations of Hydrocarbons in the Stratospheres of Jupiter and Saturn Using Celeste
AU: * Sada, P V
EM: psada@ix.netcom.com
AF: Universidad de Monterrey, Departamento de Física y Matemáticas, Av. I. Morones Prieto 4500 Pte., S. P. Garza Garcia, NL 66238, Mexico
AU: Jennings, D E
EM: Donald.E.Jennings@gsfc.nasa.gov
AF: NASA-Goddard Space Flight Center, Laboratory for Extraterrestrial Physics, Code 693, Greenbelt, MD 20771, United States
AU: Hesman, B E
EM: Brigette.Hesman@gsfc.nasa.gov
AF: NASA-Goddard Space Flight Center, Laboratory for Extraterrestrial Physics, Code 693, Greenbelt, MD 20771, United States
AU: Bjoraker, G L
EM: Gordon.L.Bjoraker@nasa.gov
AF: NASA-Goddard Space Flight Center, Laboratory for Extraterrestrial Physics, Code 693, Greenbelt, MD 20771, United States
AU: Romani, P N
EM: Paul.N.Romani@nasa.gov
AF: NASA-Goddard Space Flight Center, Laboratory for Extraterrestrial Physics, Code 693, Greenbelt, MD 20771, United States
AU: Boyle, R J
EM: boyle@dickinson.edu
AF: Dickinson College, Dept. of Physics & Astronomy, P.O. Box 1773, Carlisle, PA 17013, United States
AU: Edwards, M
EM: medwards@dickinson.edu
AF: Dickinson College, Dept. of Physics & Astronomy, P.O. Box 1773, Carlisle, PA 17013, United States
AU: McCabe, G H
EM: mscientific@verizon.net
AF: Currier McCabe & Assoc., University Town Center, 6525 Belcrest Rd., Suite 209, Hyattsville, MD 20782, United States
AB: We are using Celeste, an infrared (5-25 μm) high-resolution (ΔR/R ~10³-10⁴) cryogenic ground-based grating spectrometer, at the McMath-Pierce Telescope of the National Solar Observatory at Kitt Peak, and at the NASA InfraRed Telescope Facility on top of Mauna Kea, to observe hydrocarbon line emission spectral features originating from the stratospheres of the planets Jupiter and Saturn. These observations are being performed in support of the Composite InfraRed Spectrometer (CIRS) instrument aboard the Cassini spacecraft on its mission past Jupiter and currently orbiting Saturn. Over the past few years we have recorded several ν₄ lines of CH₄ (1228.5 cm^-1), the ν₅ R(5) line of C₂H₂ (743.3 cm^-1) and the ν₉ ^RQ₀ branch of C₂H₆ (822.3 cm^-1) for Jupiter and Saturn on several occasions. We also have additional observations of the H₂ S(1) emission line (587.0 cm^-1) and several ν₉ C₂H₄ lines (949.5 cm^-1) for Jupiter. From these observations we have been able to infer molecular abundances for the given species at the pressure levels where their contribution functions are maximum (~1-10 mbar) that help constraint current photochemical models for the stratospheres of the planets. In particular we have been able to construct maps in longitude and latitude for Jupiter from the C₂H₂ and C₂H₆ data that compare favorably with the CIRS measurements, opening the door for further ground-based synoptic observations that could reflect seasonal abundance/temperature changes in the atmosphere of the planet. The current status of the observing campaign and recent modeling results will be presented.
DE: 0317 Chemical kinetic and photochemical properties
DE: 0343 Planetary atmospheres (5210, 5405, 5704)
DE: 5704 Atmospheres (0343, 1060)
DE: 5709 Composition (1060)
SC: Planetary Sciences [P]
MN: 2007 Joint Assembly