[41.01] Imaging and Spectroscopy of Outer Planets and Their Satellites with the Spitzer Space Telescope

AAS 204th Meeting, June 2004
Session 41 Spitzer Space Telescope
Topical Related Poster, Tuesday, June 1, 2004, 10:00am-7:00pm, Ballroom

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[41.01] Imaging and Spectroscopy of Outer Planets and Their Satellites with the Spitzer Space Telescope

J. E. Van Cleve (Ball Aerospace and Technologies Corp.), D. P. Cruikshank (NASA Ames), J. A. Stansberry (Steward Observatory), M. J. Burgdorf (Spitzer Science Center), D. Devost (Cornell University), J. P. Emery (NASA Ames), G. Fazio (SAO), Y. R. Fernandez (University of Hawaii), W. Glaccum, C. Grillmair (Spitzer Science Center), J. R. Houck (Cornell University), V. S. Meadows, P. Morris, W. Reach (Spitzer Science Center), H. Reitsema (Ball Aerospace and Technologies Corp.), G. H. Rieke (Steward Observatory), M. W. Werner (Spitzer Science Center)

The Spitzer Space Telescope, formerly known as SIRTF, is now operational and delivers unprecedented sensitivity for the observation of Solar System targets.

Spitzer's imagers and spectrometers cover the 3.6 to 160 micron wavelength range. Guaranteed Time Observer (GTO) programs include the moons of the outer Solar System, Pluto, Centaurs, Kuiper Belt Objects, and comets. For example, the “Moons and Planets” program is now examining the principal satellites of outer Solar System planets, as well as Uranus and Neptune, using all SIRTF instruments.

In our poster, we present the early results of the Spitzer Space Telescope "Moons and Planets" program, including but not limited to:

1. Photometry and derived albedos of the rings of Uranus and its principal satellites between 3.6 and 15 microns.

2. Images and spectra of Rhea, Titan, Iapetus, and Phoebe.

3. Images and spectra of Neptune and Triton, if those observations are scheduled between April 29 and the beginning of this conference.

and interpretation of these data in terms of surface composition, temperature, and thermal inertia. We will also relate the data presented in item 2 to the data that will be collected by Cassini, which is due to encounter Phoebe and enter orbit around Saturn shortly after this conference.

This material is based on work supported by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration under Award No. NAS7-03001, The California Institute of Technology, and Cornell University

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