A new global‐scale emission event for Jupiter: tentative H2 dimer emission at 2.104 μm on February 15, 1992

Abstract

On February 15, 1992, from 0638 to 1023 UT, a single emission feature at 2.104 μm was observed over a wide area on Jupiter, covering much of the southern hemisphere. The emission was observed from the south limb to the equator along the central meridian at longitudes from 72° to 207° but appeared to be absent in the northern hemisphere. The emission was widespread in longitude, in that it was also visible at both the east and west limbs on a latitudinal chord 6 arc sec from the southern limb when the central meridian longitude was 189°–207°. The emission was not detected during the following two nights of the run. The wavelength is consistent with the l = 3 to l = 0 transition of the quasibound H2 dimer double transition Q1(1) + S0(1). No other emission features were detected.