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Science 12 April 1974:
Vol. 184. no. 4133, pp. 154 - 156
DOI: 10.1126/science.184.4133.154
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Articles

Jupiter's Ionosphere: Prospects for Pioneer 10

S. K. Atreya 1, T. M. Donahue 1, and Michael B. McElroy 2

1 Department of Physics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213
2 Center for Earth and Planetary Physics, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138

Model Jovian ionospheres are constructed for comparison with Pioneer 10 results. Electron density maxima are predicted at a level approximately 220 kilometers above an assumed reference height where the hydrogen density is 1016 molecules per cubic centimeter. It may be possible to use observations of the electron density to locate the turbopause. Attention is drawn to a possible strong source of ionized sodium from lo which might lead to large electron densities at low altitudes.

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Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)