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A. A. Simon-Miller, B. J. Conrath, F. M. Flasar, R. Achterberg (NASA's GSFC), P. J. Gierasch (Cornell University), C. A. Nixon (NASA's GSFC), Cassini CIRS Team
The Cassini Composite Infrared Spectrometer (CIRS) uses dual interferometers in two focal planes to operate in the 7-16 micron range with 0.27 milliradian per pixel spatial resolution. In late 2000, the Cassini spacecraft began a slow distant flyby of Jupiter, obtaining almost simultaneous data with the Galileo spacecraft. Nearly global maps of the planet obtained at 3 inverse cm spectral resolution with CIRS captured the signature of the Great Red Spot in the thermal infrared with spatial resolution of about 3 great circle degrees. Temperature fluctuations less than 0.5 K are detectable. The temperature retrievals are sensitive to a range of altitudes between ~100 to 400 mbar and 1 to 20 mbar. Maps have been constructed of the GRS region, showing obvious temperature perturbations below 100 mbar; none are seen in the 1 to 20 mbar region. We present these new data and compare with Voyager IRIS data of the same region. Other recent observational results will also be summarized.
The author(s) of this abstract have provided an email address for comments about the abstract: Amy.A.Simon-Miller.1@gsfc.nasa.gov