The rotation period of Neptune's upper atmosphere

R. Hamilton Brown; Dale P. Cruikshank; Alan T. Tokunaga

doi:10.1016/0019-1035(81)90163-9

The rotation period of Neptune's upper atmosphere

R. Hamilton Brown, Dale P. Cruikshank, Alan T. Tokunaga

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27 Scopus citations

Abstract

Significant variations in the near-infrared brightness of Neptune during July and August 1980 were observed. These observations show a well-defined, large-amplitude variation in Neptune's J-K color, with a period of 17.73 ± 0.1 hr and are interpreted as diurnal variations resulting from the 17.73-hr rotation period of the upper atmosphere of Neptune in the presence of inhomogeneous weather. These results qualitatively corroborate those of D. P. Cruikshank (1978, Astrophys. J. 220, L57-L59) in an earlier study using similar techniques. In addition, variations were observed in the 5-μm spectral region which are in phase with the variations seen at shorter wavelengths. A new 5-μm measurement of Uranus is also reported.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	159-165
Number of pages	7
Journal	Icarus
Volume	47
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/0019-1035(81)90163-9
State	Published - Aug 1981
Externally published	Yes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Astronomy and Astrophysics
Space and Planetary Science

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10.1016/0019-1035(81)90163-9

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@article{fc44171f3c9844b998b5d59c489e37e0,

title = "The rotation period of Neptune's upper atmosphere",

abstract = "Significant variations in the near-infrared brightness of Neptune during July and August 1980 were observed. These observations show a well-defined, large-amplitude variation in Neptune's J-K color, with a period of 17.73 ± 0.1 hr and are interpreted as diurnal variations resulting from the 17.73-hr rotation period of the upper atmosphere of Neptune in the presence of inhomogeneous weather. These results qualitatively corroborate those of D. P. Cruikshank (1978, Astrophys. J. 220, L57-L59) in an earlier study using similar techniques. In addition, variations were observed in the 5-μm spectral region which are in phase with the variations seen at shorter wavelengths. A new 5-μm measurement of Uranus is also reported.",

author = "Brown, {R. Hamilton} and Cruikshank, {Dale P.} and Tokunaga, {Alan T.}",

note = "Funding Information: This work evolved in cooperation with Drs. M. J. S. Belton and L. Wallace, and has benefited from discussions with H. J. Smith and D. B. Slavsky. We would like to acknowledge the excellent assistance at the telescope provided by Ed Shaya and illuminating discussions with J. S. Morgan, D. Backman, and R. N. Clark. This work was supported in part by NASA Grant NGL12-001-057, NASA Grant NSG 7312, and NASA Contract NASW 3159. Funding Information: The Infrared Telescope Facility is operated by the University of Hawaii under contract from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.",

year = "1981",

month = aug,

doi = "10.1016/0019-1035(81)90163-9",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "47",

pages = "159--165",

journal = "Icarus",

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number = "2",

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T1 - The rotation period of Neptune's upper atmosphere

AU - Brown, R. Hamilton

AU - Cruikshank, Dale P.

AU - Tokunaga, Alan T.

N1 - Funding Information: This work evolved in cooperation with Drs. M. J. S. Belton and L. Wallace, and has benefited from discussions with H. J. Smith and D. B. Slavsky. We would like to acknowledge the excellent assistance at the telescope provided by Ed Shaya and illuminating discussions with J. S. Morgan, D. Backman, and R. N. Clark. This work was supported in part by NASA Grant NGL12-001-057, NASA Grant NSG 7312, and NASA Contract NASW 3159. Funding Information: The Infrared Telescope Facility is operated by the University of Hawaii under contract from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

PY - 1981/8

Y1 - 1981/8

N2 - Significant variations in the near-infrared brightness of Neptune during July and August 1980 were observed. These observations show a well-defined, large-amplitude variation in Neptune's J-K color, with a period of 17.73 ± 0.1 hr and are interpreted as diurnal variations resulting from the 17.73-hr rotation period of the upper atmosphere of Neptune in the presence of inhomogeneous weather. These results qualitatively corroborate those of D. P. Cruikshank (1978, Astrophys. J. 220, L57-L59) in an earlier study using similar techniques. In addition, variations were observed in the 5-μm spectral region which are in phase with the variations seen at shorter wavelengths. A new 5-μm measurement of Uranus is also reported.

AB - Significant variations in the near-infrared brightness of Neptune during July and August 1980 were observed. These observations show a well-defined, large-amplitude variation in Neptune's J-K color, with a period of 17.73 ± 0.1 hr and are interpreted as diurnal variations resulting from the 17.73-hr rotation period of the upper atmosphere of Neptune in the presence of inhomogeneous weather. These results qualitatively corroborate those of D. P. Cruikshank (1978, Astrophys. J. 220, L57-L59) in an earlier study using similar techniques. In addition, variations were observed in the 5-μm spectral region which are in phase with the variations seen at shorter wavelengths. A new 5-μm measurement of Uranus is also reported.

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The rotation period of Neptune's upper atmosphere

Abstract

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