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Science 21 July 1989:
Vol. 245. no. 4915, pp. 283 - 286
DOI: 10.1126/science.245.4915.283
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Articles

Triton: Do We See to the Surface?

D. P. CRUIKSHANK 1, R. H. BROWN 2, L. P. GIVER 1, and A. T. TOKUNAGA 3

1 NASA Ames Research Center, MS 245-6, Moffett Field, CA 94035.
2 Jet Propulsion Laboratory, MS 183-501, 4800 Oak Grove Drive, Pasadena, CA 91109.
3 Institute for Astronomy, 2680 Woodlawn Drive, Honolulu, HI, 96822.

The quantity and physical state of methane and nitrogen in the atmosphere of Neptune's satellite Triton and on the surface are evaluated by means of new telescopic data and laboratory measurements of these volatiles. Methane ice is seen in some spectral regions, indicating that the atmosphere is sufficiently transparent to permit sunlight penetration to the surface. Some of the molecular nitrogen absorption occurs in the atmosphere, though some must occur in condensed nitrogen (liquid or solid) on Triton's surface, or in a thin cloud of condensed nitrogen. The Voyager spacecraft cameras should see the surface of Triton.

Submitted on April 19, 1989
Accepted on June 12, 1989


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
The Effect of Surface Roughness on Triton's Volatile Distribution.
R. V. Yelle and R. V. YELLE (1992)
Science 255, 1553-1555
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Triton's Geyser-Like Plumes: Discovery and Basic Characterization.
L. A. Soderblom, L. A. Soderblom, S. W. Kieffer, T. L. Becker, R. H. Brown, A. F. Cook II, C. J. Hansen, T. V. Johnson, R. L. Kirk, and E. M. Shoemaker (1990)
Science 250, 410-415
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Voyager 2 at Neptune: Imaging Science Results.
B. A. Smith, B. A. Smith, L. A. Soderblom, D. Banfield, c. Barnet, A. T. Basilevsky, R. F. Beebe, K. Bollinger, J. M. Boyce, A. Brahic, et al. (1989)
Science 246, 1422-1449
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Infrared Observations of the Neptunian System.
B. Conrath, F. M. Flasar, R. Hanel, V. Kunde, W. Maguire, J. Pearl, J. Pirraglia, R. Samuelson, P. Gierasch, A. Weir, et al. (1989)
Science 246, 1454-1459
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Ultraviolet Spectrometer Observations of Neptune and Triton.
A. L. Broadfoot, S. K. Atreya, J. L. Bertaux, J. E. Blamont, A. J. Dessler, T. M. Donahue, W. T. Forrester, D. T. Hall, F. Herbert, J. B. Holberg, et al. (1989)
Science 246, 1459-1466
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