R. Schulz

Near‐ir spectroscopy of Jupiter at the time of comet Shoemaker‐Levy 9 Impacts: Emissions of CH4, H3+ and H2

Near-infrared emissions of the SL9 impact sites of Jupiter have been recorded on July 16–18, 1994, at ESO (La Silla, Chile). A very strong emission of methane was recorded between 3.50 and 3.56 µm, shortly after impact H, showing evidence for a temporary increase of the Jovian stratospheric temperature. Emissions of H2 (2.12 µm) and H3+ (3.53 µm) were also detected above some of the impact sites, several hours after the impacts. The observed H3+ emissions, however, seem to be at least partly contaminated by the southern aurora. A strong continuum was also detected at 2.12 µm over most of the impact sites, presumably due to intense scattering of reflected sunlight by stratospheric haze.

Near‐IR emissions in the upper Jovian atmosphere after SL‐9 impact: Indications of possible northern counterparts

The evolution of the Jovian atmosphere as a result of the impact of SL-9 was monitored in the near-IR at the 3.5-m New Technology Telescope at ESO, La Silla, from July 22–31, 1994. At the beginning of the observational run the spectra around 3.5 µm show enhanced H3+ emissions at −44° and +44° latitude, which are distributed similarly in longitude. Later, most of the H3+ emission is present in the northern polar region while it has faded at −44°. In the 2.1 µm range all spectra obtained at −44° lat. show a continuum associated to the impact sites on which in some cases the H2 quadrupole line is indicated. The spatial distribution of the H2 emission in the northern hemisphere does not show a clear correlation to the impact sites.