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[53P.13] Spectrally resolved observations of Io's sodium cloud: Results from the LOTMOP program

F.J. Crary (University of Colorado), M. E. Brown, M. Tiscareno (California Institute of Technology), A. Misch (Lick Observatory), F. Bagenal, D. Brain, M. H. Burger (University of Colorado), U. Dyudina (California Institute of Technology), M. Kueppers (University of Colorado), G. Lichtenberg (MPI fur Aeronomie), M. A. McGrath (Space Telescope Science Inst.), I. de Pater (University of California), K. Paularena, J. Richardson (Mass. Institure of Technology), N. M. Schneider (University of Colorado), M. H. Taylor (Space Telescope Science Inst.), N. Thomas (MPI fur Aeronomie), D. Tytell (California Institute of Technology)

We report observations of Io's sodium cloud, made in 1997 as part of the Lick Observatory Torus Monitoring Program (LOTMOP). The line of sight velocity of the neutral sodium was measured with sufficient accuracy to show the structure of the forward cloud in both position and velocity. The position-velocity structure varies systematically with Io phase. The rough shape and Io phase effect are well described by an approximate, numerical model of neutral sodium escaping from Io.