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At least 451 records · Page 25

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NASA NTRS1988

Very Large Array observations of Uranus at 2.0 cm

Radio observations of Uranus obtained at 2.0 cm with the B configuration of the VLA during April 1985 are reported. The calibration and data-reduction procedures are described in detail, and the results are presented in tables, maps, and graphs and compared with IRIS 44-micron observations (Hanel et al., 1986). Features discussed include highest brightness centered on the pole rather than on the subearth point, a decrease in brightness temperature (by up to 9 K) at latitudes between -20 and -50 deg (well correlated with the IRIS data), and disk-center position (corrected for the observed radio asymmetry) in good agreement with that found on the basis of the outer contours of the image.

Berge, G. L.↗

NASA NTRS1988

VLA observations of Uranus at 1.3-20 cm

Observations of Uranus, obtained with resolution 0.5-1.2 arcsec at wavelengths 1.3, 2, 6, and 20 cm using the A and B configurations of the VLA in June-July 1982, October 1983, and February 1984, are reported. The disk-averaged brightness temperatures (DABTs) are determined by model fitting, and the results are presented in extensive graphs and contour maps and characterized in detail. Findings discussed include: (1) an overall spectrum which is relatively flat above 6 cm, (2) 1.3-6-cm brightness which is concentrated nearer to the pole than to the subsolar point, and (3) small changes in DABT from 1982 to 1983/1984 (consistent with an explanation based on a pole-equator temperature gradient).

De Pater, Imke↗

NASA NTRS1988

Accretional heating of the satellites of Saturn and Uranus

A model developed specifically for accretional heating of small icy satellites of massive planets was used to investigate the effects of various parameters on the accretional heating of the Saturn and Uranus satellites. It was shown that accretional heating is completely dominated by cisplanetary impactors, with substantial deposition of heat occurring well below a satellite's surface. Three parameters that have large uncertainties were found to affect accretional temperature profile: the Safronov parameter for cisplanetary impactors, the fraction of impactor energy deposited below the surface, and the exponent in the impactor size-distribution equation. For most satellites, the depth of maximum heating and the maximum temperature reached have smooth positive dependences on satellite size. Accretional heating of these satellites is insufficient to melt H2O ice, but, if NH3 or CH4 are present, accretional heating may produce a warm buoyant mobile zone tens of kilometers below the surface.

Squyres, Steven W.↗

NASA NTRS1988

Evidence for periodic reconnection at Uranus?

The unique orientation of Uranus at the time of the Voyager 2 encounter results in a convection dominated magnetosphere. Plasma and magnetic field data from the tail magnetosheath are presented. Velocity decreases of 5-10 percemt seem to occur with a 17-hour period. At least four repetitions of this decrease are observed, in all cases when flow passes over the dayside polar cap. One possible interpretation of these features is that they are signatures of dayside reconnection. The cause of the velocity decreases would be drag on the reconnected flux tubes which are coupled via Birkeland currents to the ionosphere. The coupling efficiency for power transfer between the solar wind and Uranian magnetosphere implied by these decreases is consistent with previous determinations of this quantity.

Richardson, J. D.↗

NASA NTRS1987

The magnetosphere of Uranus

The Voyager 2 encounter with Uranus on January 24, 1986, is described. It is noted that the combination of the orientation of the Uranian rotation axis with respect to the solar wind direction, and of the Uranian magnetic dipole axis with respect to the rotation axis, is a unique circumstance in the solar system. The Uranian magnetosphere is neither convection-dominated nor corotation-dominated, but rather a unique combination of both.

Belcher, J. W.↗

NASA NTRS1988

Magnetospheric convection in the nondipolar magnetic field of Uranus

A method for determining the magnetospheric convection electric field, using simple analytic approximations under the assumption of uniform ionospheric conductivity, is described and applied to Uranus. Magnetic field models including quadrupole and octupole moments are used to determine the shape of the polar caps and the mapping of the electric field and parallel currents between ionosphere and magnetosphere. The model predictions are compared with plasma data taken by Voyager 2 in the inner Uranian magnetosphere.

Selesnick, Richard S.↗

NASA NTRS1988

Source of bursty radio emissions from Uranus

The distribution of energetic electrons on the auroral field lines in the magnetosphere of Uranus can develop large anisotropies and a large loss cone. These, in turn, can lead to large-amplitude whistler waves and upper-hybrid waves. Nonlinear currents caused by interaction between these waves can produce radio emissions that are in good agreement with the bursty Uranian kilometric radiation observed by Voyager 2.

Buti, B.↗

NASA NTRS1989

The source location and beaming of broadband bursty radio emissions from Uranus

A rotationally-dependent occurrence pattern is identified for the b-bursty emissions observed with Voyager 2 during its 1986 encounter with Uranus. Certain features of this pattern, such as its extension to the highest frequencies and a 40-min signal gap, were sometimes recognizable on individual rotations despite the bursty character of the signals. This pattern is interpreted in terms of Voyager's passing from the inside of a broad, hollow emission cone coming from the southern hemisphere to the outside, and then back in, as a result of planetary rotation. The emission gap then corresponds to the times when Voyager was outside the cone.

Farrell, W. M.↗

NASA NTRS1989

An exploratory 5-micron spectrum of Uranus

The intensity peak at 4.8 microns characterizing the spectrum observed for the disk of Uranus near 5 microns, in June 1987, exhibits steep declines at shorter and longer wavelength. An exploratory discussion is presented of various models in view of these data; it is noted that some component of the radiation must originate near the 140 K atmospheric irrespective of the radiation's origin in sunlight or thermal emission; physical considerations dictate that it be at least partly thermal in origin. One model consistent with the data requires the presence of a cloud top at the 8-bar level.

Orton, Glenn S.↗

NASA NTRS1989

The far ultraviolet reflection spectrum of Uranus - Results from the Voyager encounter

The present analysis of the 1250-1700 A region Uranus spectrum obtained by Voyager's US spectrometer characterizes these observation results as due primarily to solar light reflected from an H2 Rayleigh and Raman scattering atmosphere with small but measurable hydrocarbon absorption. The hydrocarbon abundances obtained are substantially lower than those at comparable levels of the Saturn or Jupiter atmospheres; it is suggested, in one-dimensional terms, that this is due to diffusive separation, in conjunction with photochemical depletion caused by a very low eddy-diffusion coefficient. Strong latitudinal variations in the hydrocarbon abundances are suggested in the subsolar, polar stratosphere.

Yelle, Roger V.↗

NASA NTRS1989

Minnaert photometric parameters for the satellites of Uranus

After deriving the Minnaert (1961) parameters for the five largest satellites of Uranus as functions of both wavelength and phase angle, the well-documented case of Titania is invoked to assess the usefulness of the Minnaert description vs the more rigorous approach of Hapke (1981). While the limb-darkening Minnaert parameter k possesses only a weak wavelength dependence, it exhibits a strong dependence on phase angle that varies to some extent from satellite to satellite; in the case of Titania, this dependence is similar to that for the earth's moon.

Veverka, J.↗

NASA NTRS1989

Optimized Jupiter, Saturn, and Uranus interior models

A method for inverting gravitational data is the basis for the present models of Saturn, Jupiter, and Uranus, which have been computed to the third-order in rotational disturbance to the total potential and yield exact matches for recent, highly-accurate determinations of gravitational harmonics for these planets. These results indicate that a major He depletion has either not occurred in the outer layers of Jupiter or of Saturn, or that such a depletion's effect on the density profile has been masked by the presence of denser components. Considerable uncertainty characterizes Uranian models; the one presently preferred has substantial heavy-element enhancement at depth and little ice-rock separation.

Hubbard, W. B.↗

NASA NTRS1989

The oblateness of Uranus at the 1-microbar level

Atmospheric occultation half-light times and scale heights, together with updated ring-orbit model parameters, are presently used to ascertain the planetary limb shape and thereby derive the radius and oblateness of Uranus at the 1-microbar level from stellar occultation observations obtained on March 10, 1977, and March 23, 1983. Assuming that the planet is in hydrostatic equilibrium, the inferred rotation period is 17.7 + or - 0.6 hr in the -30 to +26 deg latitude range of these observations. These results are noted to be consistent with those based by Lindal et al. (1987) on Voyager 2 observations, where the period at 5 deg latitude is of the order of 18.0 + or - 0.3 hr.

Baron, Richard L.↗

NASA NTRS1989

Radio emission from the magnetic equator of Uranus

The major observational characteristics of the smooth, narrow bandwidth component of Uranus' radio emissions are well described by sources radiating near the local electron gyrofrequency, confined to the magnetic equatorial plane and encircling the planet at radial distances of approximately 2 to 3 R(U). The most intense emission appears to be generated in association with the epsilon ring at 2.0 R(U) radial distance. A cold electron density of less than or equal to 4/cu cm are inferred in this region.

Kaiser, M. L.↗

NASA NTRS1989

Source location of the smooth high-frequency radio emissions from Uranus

The source location of the smooth high-frequency radio emissions from Uranus has been determined. Specifically, by fitting the signal dropouts which occurred as Voyager traversed the hollow center of the emission pattern to a symmetrical cone centered on the source magnetic field direction at the cyclotron frequency, a southern-hemisphere (nightside) source was found at approximately 56 deg S, 219 deg W. The half-angle for the hollow portion of the emission pattern was found to be 13 deg.

Farrell, W. M.↗

NASA NTRS1988

Uranus radio emissions

An overview of the Voyager 2 Planetary Radio Astronomy instrument observations of the planet Uranus is presented. From these observations, a number of inferences have been made including the rotation period of the interior of the planet and the source locations of several of the radio components.

Kaiser, Michael L.↗

NASA NTRS1989

Uranus - Beneath that bland exterior

Findings made by the Voyager missions regarding the atmosphere, magnetic field, rings, and satellites of Uranus are reviewed. The reasons for the bland appearance of the planet are addressed, and the use of radio and infrared instruments to determine the rotational speeds of the planet and atmosphere, the equatorial radius, and the atmospheric temperature is discussed. The corkscrew magnetic field and the dark, almost dust-free rings are described. The most significant features of the largest Uranian moons are mentioned.

Simpson, Richard A.↗

NASA NTRS1990

New Voyager radio spectrograms of Uranus

New, high-resolution spectrograms of the Voyager-2 radio observations at Uranus were produced from the original, six-second Planetary Radio Astronomy (PRA) data and these show a number of new features which were not obvious in previous versions. Among these new features are the detailed structure of the so-called broadband-bursty (b-bursty) emissions, unexpected sloping striations in the smooth high-frequency (SHF) component, and the overlap of these two components during the first rotation after closest approach. In addition, a slightly different planetary rotation rate from the b-bursty emissions, was found, and at the initial onset of the SHF component, what appears to be the shadow of a Uranian plasmasphere. These new spectrograms were prepared using a special dithering algorithm to show signal strengths as gray shadings, and the data were also manually cleaned to suppress noise and interference. This produced spectrograms of exceptional quality and certain details of their production on a stand-alone personal computer are also discussed.

Calvert, W.↗