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T. Widemann, E. Lellouch (Obs. Paris), J.P. Bretagne (Obs Haute-Provence), A. Campargue (Univ. J. Fourier, Grenoble)
The first attempts to measure Venus winds from Doppler shift spectroscopy date back to the mid-1970s (Young et al. 1979, Traub and Carleton 1979). These measurements, which made use of Venus CO2 lines and solar Fraunhofer lines at visible wavelengths, were never conclusive, as observations acquired by different observers resulted in a wide range of velocities. Yet, this technique deserves further investigation, as potentially providing unique information on the decrease of the super-rotation above the cloud tops.
On July 31 - August 4, 2002 we observed Venus with the AURELIE spectrometer on the 1.52 m telescope at Observatoire de Haute-Provence, France, continuing a campaign initiated in July 2001. The spectra cover the 8660-8730 A range, i.e. the region of the 5nu3 band of CO2, at a resolving power of about 115000. The instrument has a single 3" aperture. Seven points were observed on Venus' illuminated side, using the disk center as a zero-velocity reference. About 28 lines from the P and R branches of the 5nu3 band were well detected and can be used for wind measurements. Results will be presented at the meeting and compared with the 2001 results.
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Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, 34, #3< br> © 2002. The American Astronomical Soceity.