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[33.06] An HST Search for N₂ emissions on Mars

J. Caldwell, S. Melnichuk (York University (Toronto)), S. K. Atreya, A.-S. Wong (University of Michigan)

Renno et al. (GRL 30, 2140, 2003), while noting that triboelectric charging of particles in terrestrial dust storms and dust devils produces wideband electromagnetic radiation, proposed that the same processes may also occur in Martian dust storms. They also presented evidence that such emission is detectable from the Earth, particularly at radio wavelengths. Here, we examine Hubble Space Telescope archival spectra of Mars during the 2001 dust storm from three different visits in August and September of that year, covering periods of significantly different levels of storm activity. We used STIS G430L data to search for emissions from the First Negative System and the Second Positive System of N₂ from 300 to 490 nm wavelength. The spectrographic slit projects to 52 arc sec on the sky, so that each spectral image produces spectra from limb to terminator across the planet, as well as background sky measurements beyond both edges.

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Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, 37 #3
© 2004. The American Astronomical Soceity.