• Title/Summary/Keyword: Jupiter: aurora

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SMALL $H_3^+$ EMISSION PATCHES IN THE VICINITY OF JUPITER'S AURORAL REGIONS

  • KIM YONG-HA;KIM SANG JOON
    • Journal of The Korean Astronomical Society
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    • v.28 no.1
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    • pp.89-95
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    • 1995
  • We examined a total of 166 images of $3.5{\mu}m\;H_3^+$ emission in the auroral regions of Jupiter observed with the Protocam on IRTF in 1991 and 1992, and found that 30 images contain a clearly isolated small emission patch in the vicinity of the northern auroral regions. Two different time sequences of the images show the small patches at the dusk limb in the range of System III longitudes from $270^{\circ}\;through\;0^{\circ}\;to\;90^{circ}$. The small patches in one sequence of the images, which were taken at 10 phase between $240^{\circ}\;and\;260^{\circ}$, may be related to the 10 flux tube, similarly suggested by Connerney et al. (1993). However, the small patches in the other sequence are separated from Io as much as $80^{\circ}$ in longitude. The positions of the small patches in both sequences are deviated equatorward from the 10 footprint oval by $5^{\circ}-8^{\circ}$ latitude in the longitudinal range of $270^{\circ}-360^{\circ}$. A significant modification is required in current Jovian magnetic field models near the Jupiter's surface if the small patches are produced at the foot of the 10 flux tube.

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SEARCH FOR AN OI EMISSION AT $1304{\AA}$ IN JOVIAN AUROAL SPECTRA

  • Kim, Sang-J.;Kim, Yong-H.
    • Publications of The Korean Astronomical Society
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    • v.10 no.1
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    • pp.127-134
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    • 1995
  • Recent discovery of an Io-related feature in Jupiter's auroral regions prompted us to search for an or multiplet at $1304{\AA}$ in IUE aurora spectra. In three independent IUE spectra taken on January 18, 1981, we found an emission structure at $1304{\AA}$, with a signal-to-noise of about three. If the structure is due to the OI emission, then it is a direct evidence of oxygen ion precipitation, which may originate from Io and Io torus. The emission rates of the $H_2$ band systems and the or multiplet are about 50 kR and 150 R, respectively. We have constructed high resolution model spectra with the estimated emission rates of $H_2$, OI and SI for the Goddard High Resolution Spectrograph (GHRS) onboard the Hubble Space Telescope. The model spectra clearly show the or and SI mulitplets separated from crowded $H_2$ Lyman and Werner band lines, and therefore it is promising to detect the OI and SI multiplets with the GHRS. Given the possibility that the lo-related feature may be caused by ion precipitations from the Io flux tube, it is likely that the OI emission may be detected in the footprint area of the IO flux tube.

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