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NASA NTRS1981

Application of X-ray imaging techniques to auroral monitoring

The precipitation of energetic particles into the ionosphere produces bremsstrahlung X-rays and K-alpha line emission from excited oxygen and nitrogen. If viewed from a spacecraft in a highly elliptical polar orbit, this soft (0.3 - 3.0 keV) X-radiation will provide an almost uninterrupted record of dayside and nightside auroras. A grazing incidence X-ray telescope especially designed for such auroral monitoring is described. High photon collection efficiency will permit exposure times of approximately 100 seconds during substorms. Spectrophotometry will allow users to derive the energy spectrum of the precipitating particles. If placed in a 15 earth-radius orbit, the telescope can produce auroral X-ray images with 30 km resolution. Absolute position of X-ray auroras can be established with a small optical telescope co-aligned with the X-ray telescope. Comparison of X-ray and optical images will establish the height and global distribution of X-ray aurorae, relative to well-known optical auroras, thus melding the new X-ray results with knowledge of optical auroras.

Rust, D. M.↗

NASA NTRS1982

The probability distributions of S/+/ gyrospeeds in the Io torus

The first detailed thermal speed probability distribution for a Jovian plasma ion is presented. The distribution of heavy ion thermal speeds appears to be highly significant for an evaluation of the processes by which the particle and energy budgets of the Io plasma torus are maintained. Attention is given to the measurement, reduction, and analysis procedures which yield the reported probability distribution. A kinetic energy inventory of the Jovian plasma heavy ion component can be obtained from high-resolution, high-precision spectrophotometry of emission lines. The current S(+) study finds that detection of the line wings results in a mean energy (approximately 60 eV) which is higher by a factor of approximately 10 than is implied by the line core. This illustrates that a dispersive measurement may provide only a lower limit to the kinetic energy content.

Brown, R. A.↗

NASA NTRS1981

Chemical abundances in comets

Photoelectric filter photometry and spectrophotometry undertaken to establish homogeneous, quantitative data on chemical abundances in comets is discussed. Absolute column densities of a particular species were derived from a comparison of the absolute flux of an emission feature due to the species with a fluorescence calculation, and converted into species production rates by the use of a Haser model and the species lifetime. Observations of C2 and CN reveal a constant production rate ratio at heliocentric distances up to 1.5-2.0 AU, which implies a compositional homogeneity with depth and the formation of most comets from a homogeneous volume in the solar nebula. Observations of the trace species C3 indicate no apparent variation in relative abundances, while observations of low levels of NH2 and CH imply that NH3 and CH4 are not abundant species. H2O is considered to be the most abundant species based on detections of O, H and OH, while variations in CO or CO2 content may account for the very large differences in cometary gas-to-dust ratios and morphologies.

Ahearn, M. F.↗

NASA NTRS1981

The 1.7- to 4.2-micron spectrum of asteroid 1 Ceres - Evidence for structural water in clay minerals

A high-resolution Fourier spectrum (1.7-3.5 microns) and medium-resolution spectrophotometry (2.7-4.2 microns) were obtained for Asteroid 1 Ceres. The presence of the 3-micron absorption feature due to water of hydration was confirmed. The 3-micron feature is compared with the 3-micron bands due to water of hydration in clays and salts. It is concluded that the spectrum of Ceres shows a strong absorption at 2.7-2.8 microns due to structural OH groups in clay minerals. The dominant minerals on the surface of Ceres are therefore hydrated clay minerals structurally similar to terrestrial montmorillonites. There is also a narrow absorption feature at 3.1 microns which is attributable to a very small amount of water ice on Ceres. This is the first evidence for ice on the surface of an asteroid.

Lebofsky, L. A.↗

NASA NTRS1982

Mineralogical aspects of terrestrial weathering effects in chondrites from Allan Hills, Antarctica

The work reported here represents a first attempt at comparing the mineralogical aspects of weathering effects in selected Antarctic chondrites with those present in a petrologically similar chondrite which was weathered in the Arizona desert. The methods of analysis employed include X-ray diffractometry, differential thermal analysis, and reflectance spectrophotometry. It is found that the dominant weathering products in the rocks are complex, multiple-phase, hydrous ferric oxides which formed by alteration of Ni-Fe metal and sulfide particles under the influence of liquid water. The Fe-oxide weathering products may comprise approximately 15-20 wt % of the most intensely weathered samples although the same samples contain not more than 5% goethite as the only well-crystallized hydrous ferric oxide.

Gooding, J. L.↗

NASA NTRS1981

Infrared astronomy; Proceedings of the Symposium, Kona, HI, June 23-27, 1980

The role of infrared studies in numerous aspects of astronomy is examined. Topics include the composition of planetary atmospheres; spectrophotometric remote sensing of planets and satellites; thermal studies of planetary surfaces; infrared sources in dense molecular clouds; globules, dark clouds, and low mass pre-main sequence stars; protostellar objects; molecular hydrogen emission; and the Orion molecular cloud. Also considered are dust spectrophotometry; polarimetry of infrared sources; emission line observations of H II regions; observation and interpretation of emissions from the galactic plane; the galactic center; stellar content of extragalactic systems; star formation in galactic nuclei; and active extragalactic nuclei.

Wynn-Williams, C. G.↗

NASA NTRS1982

Compositional structure of the asteroid belt

A variety of observations, mainly albedos derived from 10 and 20 micron radiometry and eight-filter broadband spectrophotometry, were used to show that the asteroid belt is highly structured in composition. The bias-corrected distribution from 1.8 to 5.2 A.U. of the previously defined compositional types C,S,E,R, and M, plus type D and the newly described types F and P, are reported on. In terms of the relative abundances of the types discussed, the asteroid belt appears to be composed of at least six major compositionally distinct regions. The inferred composition of the asteroids in each semimajor axis region is consistent with the theory that the asteroids accreted from the solar nebula at or near their present location.

Gradie, J.↗

NASA NTRS1982

The circumstellar extinction of RY Sagittarii

In 1979-80, ultraviolet spectrophotometry of RY Sgr was obtained by the International Ultraviolet Explorer (IUE) during the star's recovery from its 1977-78 minimum. The wavelength dependence of the extinction of this R Coronae Borealis-type variable was determined by comparison of spectra obtained at different times but with nearly the same pulsational phase. The measured wavelength dependence is compatible with theoretical predictions of extinction by spherical graphite particles having a radius of 0.043 micron and with the extinction observed for amorphorus carbon smoke.

Holm, A. V.↗

NASA NTRS1982

Infrared/optical energy distributions of high redshifted quasars

Measurements at 1.2, 1.6 and 2.2 microns were combined with visual spectrophotometry of 21 quasars having redshifts z or = 2.66. The primary result is that the rest frame visual/ultraviolet continua of the high redshift quasars are well described by a sum of a power law continuum with slope of approximately -0.4 and a 3000 A bump. The rest frame visual/ultraviolet continua of these quasars are quite similar to that of 3C273, the archetype of low redshift quasars. There does not appear to be any visual/ultraviolet properties distinguishing high redshift quasars selected via visual or radio techniques.

Soifer, B. T.↗

NASA NTRS1983

Studies of planetary extended atmospheres

The light produced by the atoms and ions of Jupiter's luminous, heavy particle environment was studied. High resolution spectrophotometry is discussed.

Brown, R. A.↗

NASA NTRS1982

Mars: Definition and characterization of global surface units with emphasis on composition

Viking 2 approach maps of red and violet normal albedo are used to define units of similar optical properties for a large area of the Martian surface. Computer processing of these data reveals clusters of albedo values relating to specific, contiguous regions of the planet, with some unit boundaries being of a gradational nature while others are more discrete. A study of the albedo properties of analog materials measured in the laboratory, and of telescopic spectrophotometry of Mars, indicates that both hydroxylated and hematitic oxidized materials exist on the surface. The most probable surface expression of global dust and/or high albedo soils is in the classical bright region, Arabia. Most low albedo features in the region studied have red and violet albedos that are consistent with a dark substrate, such as basalt, coated by, or mixed with, a fine grained alteration product.

Mccord, T. B.↗

NASA NTRS1982

The outer satellites of Jupiter

Photometry and spectrophotometry of the Jovian outer satellites are used to throw light on the problem of their formation. The main plausible mechanisms for the formation of these satellites are discussd, including capture and breakup in the proto-Jovian nebula, collision within Jupiter's gravitational sphere of influence, and capture through the Jovian Lagrangian points after dissipation of the proto-Jovian nebula. UBV, VRI, and JHK color diagrams for various asteroids are used to show their similarity to the outer Jovian satellites. The evidence suggests that at least two outer Jovian satellites are comparable to C-type asteroids, and that two others are more nearly comparable to RD-type bodies. The apparent C-type satellites are both in the prograde cluster and the apparent RD-types are in the retrograde cluster. The Gradie and Veverka (1980) hypothesis that the reflectances and albedo characteristics of RD bodies may be due to aromatic kerogenlike compounds is discussed.

Cruikshank, D. P.↗

NASA NTRS1982

Diameters and albedos of satellites of Uranus

Products of the masses of the five known satellites of Uranus, and estimates of their bulk densities and surface albedos, are used to infer their probable dimensions. Spectrophotometry has established the presence of water ice on the surfaces of all save Rhea, and the brightnesses of the satellites have been measured photoelectrically. The diameter measurements presented were made using a photometric/radiometric technique, whose recent recalibration, using independent solar system object measurements, has yielded absolute accuracies better than 5 per cent. The new albedo measurements show that Umbriel, Titania and Oberon are similar to the Jupiter moon Callisto, while Ariel resembles the Saturn moon Hyperion. The diameters of all four are similar to those of the large, icy Saturn satellites Rhea and Iapetus.

Brown, R. H.↗

NASA NTRS1982

A search for frosts in Comet Bowell /1980b/

Infrared observations of Comet Bowell represent the first search for frost signatures in a comet beyond 2 AU from the sun. Broad- and narrowband photometry has been obtained as well as CVF spectrophotometry of this comet and there is no evidence for absorption features in the spectral area between 1.25 and 2.3 microns. Models of the coma have been generated which constrain the volatile content of the grains an; are in agreement with the observed albedo. The darkness of the coma particles at large heliocentric distances indicates a low albedo nucleus as well. Brightness variations during the observing period seem to indicate an active nucleus at 4.5 AU from the sun.

Campins, H.↗

NASA NTRS1983

Time-resolved ultraviolet and optical spectroscopy of the pulsating X-ray source H2252-035

UV spectrophotometry and and optical spectroscopy of H2252-035, a close binary featuring a spinning, magnetized star, were carried out with instrumentation on the IUE satellite, in addition to ground-based observations from the Lick Observatory. An excess reddening was determined, with E(B-V) equal to 0.10. The spectrum from 1200-22,000 A was decomposed into a blackbody with a temperature of 13,400 K and a power law wavelength component, where the exponent is 2.74, which fits the excess UV and IR excesses. The exponent value is noted to be amenable to a disk model with a slight curvature because of its finite extent. The emission-line intensities were found to vary by a factor of two, with some of the variations accountable by a modulation in-phase with the optical continuum binary modulation.

Cordova, F. A.↗

NASA NTRS1982

Cloud height differences on Saturn

Spectrophotometry from 0.6-2.5 micron at 1.5% spectral resolution of Saturn's equator and visibly dark South Equatorial Belt near a 1980 ring-plane crossing shows substantially less absorption by methane over the equator than over the SEB. Model fits using Appleby's model atmosphere and a multiple scattering model lead to the conclusion that the pressure levels of the clouds in the two regions differ by 20%. The region of high clouds is coincident with the location of the equatorial fast jet observed by Voyager.

Apt, J.↗

NASA NTRS1983

Velocity field and physical conditions in the active lenticular galaxy NGC 3998

A rotating and expanding flattened distribution of gas is suggested by measurements of the emission line velocity field for the line elliptical/lenticular galaxy NGC 3998, using seven long slit spectrograms in five position angles. Expanding material kinetic energy values of 10 to the 53rd to 10 to the 54th ergs, together with the flat spectrum radio source and nucleus X-ray emission, indicate pronounced nuclear activity. Spectrophotometry of the galactic nucleus shows emission line strengths typical of shocks rather than of photoionization, and line ratios indicate a postshock temperature of 60,000 K and a preshock density of 25 particles/cu cm. Both the stars and the ionized gas of the galaxy have central velocity dispersions of 260 km/s. In view of the high rotational velocity of the stars, NGC 3998 is a lenticular rather than elliptical galaxy.

Blackman, C. P.↗

NASA NTRS1983

The albedo of Uranus

New absolute spectrophotometry of Uranus between 3295 A and 7676 A obtained at spectral resolutions of 4 A and 8 A during its 1981 apparition is reported and compared with previous observations by Younkin (1970) recorded during the 1961-1963 apparitions. Geometric albedos are calculated, and Bond albedos are estimated for both sets of data. An increase in brightness of about 14% and a color change occurred during the interval between the epochs of observation, consistent with the high north-polar haze reported by Price and Franz (1979) and the change in aspect of the planet. An upper limit to the internal heat source is estimated from energy balance considerations.

Lockwood, G. W.↗