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Science 16 February 1979:
Vol. 203. no. 4381, pp. 643 - 646
DOI: 10.1126/science.203.4381.643
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Articles

Io: An Intense Brightening Near 5 Micrometers

F. C. WITTEBORN 1, J. D. BREGMAN 1, and J. B. POLLACK 2

1 Astrophysical Experiments Branch, NASA-Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, California 94035
2 Theoretical and Planetary Studies Branch, NASA-Ames Research Center

Spectrophotometric observations of the jovian satellite Io on 20 and 21 February 1978 (Universal Time) were made from 1.2 to 5.4 micrometers. Io's brightness at 4.7 to 5.4 micrometers was found to be three to five times greater at an orbital phase angle of 68° than at orbital phase angles of 23° (5.5 hours before the brightening) and 240° (20 hours after the brightening). Since the 5-micrometer albedo of Io is near unity under ordinary conditions, the observed transient phenomenon must have been the result of an emission mechanism. Although several such mechanisms were examined, the actual choice is not clear.

Submitted on August 11, 1978
Revised on November 6, 1978


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
Hydrogen Sulfide on IO: Evidence from Telescopic and Laboratory Infrared Spectra.
D. B. Nash, D. B. NASH, and R. R. HOWELL (1989)
Science 244, 454-457
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Io: Evidence for Silicate Volcanism in 1986.
T. V. Johnson, T. V. JOHNSON, G. J. VEEDER, D. L. MATSON, R. H. BROWN, R. M. NELSON, and D. MORRISON (1988)
Science 242, 1280-1283
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Characterization of Io's Volcanic Activity by Infrared Polarimetry.
J. D. Goguen, J. D. GOGUEN, and W. M. SINTON (1985)
Science 230, 65-69
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Volcanic Hotspots on Io: Stability and Longitudinal Distribution.
T. V. Johnson, T. V. Johnson, D. Morrison, D. L. Matson, G. J. Veeder, R. H. Brown, and R. M. Nelson (1984)
Science 226, 134-137
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Io: Ground-Based Observations of Hot Spots.
W. M. Sinton, W. M. SINTON, A. T. TOKUNAGA, E. E. BECKLIN, I. GATLEY, T. J. LEE, and C. J. LONSDALE (1980)
Science 210, 1015-1017
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Infrared Observations of the Jovian System from Voyager 2.
R. HANEL, B. CONRATH, M. FLASAR, L. HERATH, V. KUNDE, P. LOWMAN, W. MAGUIRE, J. PEARL, J. PIRRAGLIA, R. SAMUELSON, et al. (1979)
Science 206, 952-956
   Abstract »    PDF »
Melting of Io by Tidal Dissipation.
S. J. Peale, S. J. PEALE, P. CASSEN, and R. T. REYNOLDS (1979)
Science 203, 892-894
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