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B. A. DeWoody, W. R. Pryor (LASP/University of Colorado), E. S. Barker (University of Texas-Austin), R. A. West (JPL), C. Y. Na (Microsoft), W. E. Colwell (Earthwatch), W. K. Tobiska (JPL/FDC)
During Galileo Jupiter flyby C10 we imaged Jupiter using the Mcdonald Observatory 2.7-m Harlan J. Smith telescope for spectroscopy and the 0.9-m telescope for imaging. Approximately 500 images were taken of Jupiter and a few of Saturn through an 8900A methane filter from 9/18/1997 through 9/21/1997. These images have been made into a short movie showing an interesting haze oval in the north polar region that rotates with Jupiter's system III at longitude 170 with a width of approximately 30 degrees. Simultaneous ultraviolet Hubble Space Telescope WFPC-2 images obtained by West showed a large, UV-dark feature rotating with the planet in the north polar regions at the same location. The spectra of the haze oval obtained at Mcdonald Observatory range from about 3000A to 10000A and show enhanced continuum absorption and diminished absorption in the strong methane bands when compared to spectra at a time when the feature would not have been present. This is especially so for the 8900A band. Galileo ultraviolet spectrometer polar spectra ranging from 2000 to 3000A also show enhanced absorption at the haze oval. The oval may represent "fresh" haze formed by auroral precipitation. We present preliminary models for the spectrum.
We acknowledge support from the NASA Jupiter System Data Analysis program.
References: [1]Vincent, M.,et al. (2000) Icarus, 143, 205-222. [2] West, R.A., et al. (2001) Jupiter:Planet, Satellites and Magnetosphere conference, 123