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Science 25 January 1974:
Vol. 183. no. 4122, pp. 323 - 324
DOI: 10.1126/science.183.4122.323
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Articles

Preliminary Results on the Atmospheres of Io and Jupiter from the Pioneer 10 S-Band Occultation Experiment

Arvydas Kliore 1, Dan L. Cain 1, Gunnar Fjeldbo 1, Boris L. Seidel 1, and S. I. Rasool 2

1 Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena 91103
2 NASA Headquarters, Washington, D.C. 20546

The preliminary analysis of data from the Pioneer 10 S-band radio occultation experinment has revealed the presence of an ionosphere on the Jovian satellite Io (JI) having an electron density peak of about 6 x 104 electrons per cubic centimeter at an altitude of approximately 60 to 140 kilometers. This suggests the presence of an atmosphere having a surface number density of about 1010 to 1012 per cubic centimeter, corresponding to an atmospheric surface pressure of between 10-8 and 10-10 bar, at or below the detection threshold of the Beta Scorpii stellar occultation. A measurement of the atmosphere of Jupiter was obtained down to the level of about 80 millibars, indicating a large temperature increase at about the 20 millibar level, which cannot be explained by the absorption of solar radiation by methane alone and can possibly be due to absorption by particulate matter.


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
The Jupiter-Io Connection: An Alfven Engine in Space.
J. W. Belcher and J. W. BELCHER (1987)
Science 238, 170-176
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Radio Science with Voyager 1 at Jupiter: Preliminary Profiles of the Atmosphere and Ionosphere.
V. R. ESHLEMAN, G. L. TYLER, G. E. WOOD, G. F. LINDAL, J. D. ANDERSON, G. S. LEVY, and T. A. CROFT (1979)
Science 204, 976-978
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Images of Io's Sodium Cloud.
D. L. MATSON, B. A. GOLDBERG, T. V. JOHNSON, and R. W. CARLSON (1978)
Science 199, 531-533
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Jupiter's Atmosphere: Problems and Potential of Radio Occultation.
V. R. Eshleman (1975)
Science 189, 876-878
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Pioneer 11 Infrared Radiometer Experiment: The Global Heat Balance of Jupiter.
A. P. Ingersoll, A. P. Ingersoll, G. Munch, G. Neugebauer, D. J. Diner, G. S. Orton, B. Schupler, M. Schroeder, S. C. Chase, R. D. Ruiz, et al. (1975)
Science 188, 472-473
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Atmosphere of Jupiter from the Pioneer 11 S-Band Occultation Experiment: Preliminary Results.
A. Kliore, A. Kliore, G. Fjeldbo, B. L. Seidel, T. T. Sesplaukis, D. W. Sweetnam, and P. M. Woiceshyn (1975)
Science 188, 474-476
   Abstract »    PDF »
Io: A Surface Evaporite Deposit?.
F. P. Fanale, F. P. Fanale, T. V. Johnson, and D. L. Matson (1974)
Science 186, 922-925
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Jovian Atmosphere: Structure and Composition between the Turbopause and the Mesopause.
C. Sagan, A. Sagan, J. Veverka, L. Wasserman, J. Elliot, and W. Liller (1974)
Science 184, 901-903
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