Visible-wavelength Observations Research Articles

Spectroscopic Mapping of Io’s Surface with HST/STIS: SO2 Frost, Sulfur Allotropes, and Large-scale Compositional Patterns

Io’s intense volcanic activity results in one of the most colorful surfaces in the solar system. Ultraviolet and visible-wavelength observations of Io are critical to uncovering the chemistry behind its volcanic hues. Here, we present global, spatially resolved ultraviolet-visible spectra of Io from the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph on the Hubble Space Telescope, which bridge the gap between previous highly resolved imagery and disk-integrated spectroscopy, to provide an unprecedented combination of spatial and spectral detail. We use this comprehensive data set to investigate spectral endmembers, map observed spectral features associated with SO2 frost and other sulfur species, and explore possible compositions in the context of Io surface processes. In agreement with past observations, our results are consistent with extensive equatorial SO2 frost deposits that are stable over multidecade timescales, widespread sulfur-rich plains surrounding the SO2 deposits, and the enrichment of Pele’s pyroclastic ring and the high-latitude regions in metastable short-chain sulfur allotropes.

A New UV Spectral Feature on Europa: Confirmation of NaCl in Leading-hemisphere Chaos Terrain

Abstract Recent visible-wavelength observations of Europa’s surface obtained with the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) revealed the presence of an absorption feature near 450 nm that appears spatially correlated with leading-hemisphere chaos terrain. This feature was interpreted to reflect the presence of irradiated sodium chloride ultimately sourced from the interior. Here, we use ultraviolet spectra also collected with the HST to detect an additional previously unseen absorption near 230 nm, which spatially correlates with the 450 nm feature and with the same leading-hemisphere chaos terrain. We find that the new ultraviolet feature is also well matched by irradiated sodium chloride at Europa-like conditions. Such confirmation of sodium chloride within geologically young regions has important implications for Europa’s subsurface composition.

An HST/STIS view of protoplanetary discs in Upper Scorpius: observations of three young M stars

ABSTRACT We present observations of three protoplanetary discs in visible scattered light around M-type stars in the Upper Scorpius OB association using the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (STIS) instrument on the Hubble Space Telescope (HST). The discs around stars 2MASS J16090075–1908526, 2MASS J16142029–1906481, and 2MASS J16123916–1859284 have all been previously detected with the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA), and 2MASS J16123916–1859284 has never previously been imaged at scattered light wavelengths. We process our images using reference star differential imaging, comparing and contrasting three reduction techniques – classical subtraction, Karhunen–Loève Image Projection, and non-negative matrix factorization, selecting the classical method as the most reliable of the three for our observations. Of the three discs, two are tentatively detected (2MASS J16142029–1906481 and 2MASS J16123916–1859284), with the third going undetected. Our two detections are shown to be consistent when varying the reference star or reduction method used, and both detections exhibit structure out to projected distances of ≳200 au. Structures at these distances from the host star have never been previously detected at any wavelength for either disc, illustrating the utility of visible-wavelength observations in probing the distribution of small dust grains at large angular separations.

The Dragonfly Nearby Galaxies Survey. IV. A Giant Stellar Disk in NGC 2841

Abstract Neutral gas is commonly believed to dominate over stars in the outskirts of galaxies, and investigations of the disk-halo interface are generally considered to be in the domain of radio astronomy. This may simply be a consequence of the fact that deep H i observations typically probe to a lower-mass surface density than visible wavelength data. This paper presents low-surface-brightness, optimized visible wavelength observations of the extreme outskirts of the nearby spiral galaxy NGC 2841. We report the discovery of an enormous low-surface brightness stellar disk in this object. When azimuthally averaged, the stellar disk can be traced out to a radius of ∼70 kpc (5 R 25 or 23 inner disk scale lengths). The structure in the stellar disk traces the morphology of H i emission and extended UV emission. Contrary to expectations, the stellar mass surface density does not fall below that of the gas mass surface density at any radius. In fact, at all radii greater than ∼20 kpc, the ratio of the stellar mass to gas mass surface density is a constant 3:1. Beyond ∼30 kpc, the low-surface-brightness stellar disk begins to warp, which may be an indication of a physical connection between the outskirts of the galaxy and infall from the circumgalactic medium. A combination of stellar migration, accretion, and in situ star formation might be responsible for building up the outer stellar disk, but whatever mechanisms formed the outer disk must also explain the constant ratio between stellar and gas mass in the outskirts of this galaxy.

Atypical pit craters on Mars: New insights from THEMIS, CTX, and HiRISE observations

AbstractMore than 100 pit craters in the Tharsis region of Mars exhibit morphologies, diameters, and thermal behaviors that diverge from the much larger bowl‐shaped pit craters that occur in most regions across Mars. These Atypical Pit Craters (APCs) generally have sharp and distinct rims, vertical or overhanging walls that extend down to their floors, surface diameters of ~50–350 m, and high depth to diameter (d/D) ratios that are usually greater than 0.3 (which is an upper range value for impacts and bowl‐shaped pit craters) and can exceed values of 1.8. Observations by the Mars Odyssey Thermal Emission Imaging System (THEMIS) show that APC floor temperatures are warmer at night and fluctuate with much lower diurnal amplitudes than nearby surfaces or adjacent bowl‐shaped pit craters. Kīlauea volcano, Hawai'i, hosts pit craters that formed through subsurface collapse into active volcanic dikes, resulting in pits that can appear morphologically analogous to either APCs or bowl‐shaped pit craters. Partially drained dikes are sometimes exposed within the lower walls and floors of these terrestrial APC analogs and can form extensive cave systems with unique microclimates. Similar caves in Martian pit craters are of great interest for astrobiology. This study uses new observations by the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) and Context Camera to refine previous work where seven APCs were described from lower resolution THEMIS visible wavelength observations. Here we identify locations of 115 APCs, map their distribution across the Tharsis region, characterize their internal morphologies with high‐resolution observations, and discuss possible formation mechanisms.

Radio Astronomy in LSST Era11Workshop was held in Charlottesville, VA, on 2013 May 6–8.

A community meeting on the topic of "Radio Astronomy in the LSST Era" was hosted by the National Radio Astronomy Observatory in Charlottesville, VA (2013 May 6--8). The focus of the workshop was on time domain radio astronomy and sky surveys. For the time domain, the extent to which radio and visible wavelength observations are required to understand several classes of transients was stressed, but there are also classes of radio transients for which no visible wavelength counterpart is yet known, providing an opportunity for discovery. From the LSST perspective, the LSST is expected to generate as many as 1 million alerts nightly, which will require even more selective specification and identification of the classes and characteristics of transients that can warrant follow up, at radio or any wavelength. The LSST will also conduct a deep survey of the sky, producing a catalog expected to contain over 38 billion objects in it. Deep radio wavelength sky surveys will also be conducted on a comparable time scale, and radio and visible wavelength observations are part of the multi-wavelength approach needed to classify and understand these objects. Radio wavelengths are valuable because they are unaffected by dust obscuration and, for galaxies, contain contributions both from star formation and from active galactic nuclei. The workshop touched on several other topics, on which there was consensus including the placement of other LSST "Deep Drilling Fields," inter-operability of software tools, and the challenge of filtering and exploiting the LSST data stream. There were also topics for which there was insufficient time for full discussion or for which no consensus was reached, which included the procedures for following up on LSST observations and the nature for future support of researchers desiring to use LSST data products.

Thermal properties, sizes, and size distribution of Jupiter-family cometary nuclei

We present results from SEPPCoN, an on-going Survey of the Ensemble Physical Properties of Cometary Nuclei. In this report we discuss mid-infrared measurements of the thermal emission from 89 nuclei of Jupiter-family comets (JFCs). All data were obtained in 2006 and 2007 using imaging capabilities of the Spitzer Space Telescope. The comets were typically 4–5AU from the Sun when observed and most showed only a point-source with little or no extended emission from dust. For those comets showing dust, we used image processing to photometrically extract the nuclei. For all 89 comets, we present new effective radii, and for 57 comets we present beaming parameters. Thus our survey provides the largest compilation of radiometrically-derived physical properties of nuclei to date. We have six main conclusions: (a) The average beaming parameter of the JFC population is 1.03±0.11, consistent with unity; coupled with the large distance of the nuclei from the Sun, this indicates that most nuclei have Tempel 1-like thermal inertia. Only two of the 57 nuclei had outlying values (in a statistical sense) of infrared beaming. (b) The known JFC population is not complete even at 3km radius, and even for comets that approach to ∼2AU from the Sun and so ought to be more discoverable. Several recently-discovered comets in our survey have small perihelia and large (above ∼2km) radii. (c) With our radii, we derive an independent estimate of the JFC nuclear cumulative size distribution (CSD), and we find that it has a power-law slope of around −1.9, with the exact value depending on the bounds in radius. (d) This power-law is close to that derived by others from visible-wavelength observations that assume a fixed geometric albedo, suggesting that there is no strong dependence of geometric albedo with radius. (e) The observed CSD shows a hint of structure with an excess of comets with radii 3–6km. (f) Our CSD is consistent with the idea that the intrinsic size distribution of the JFC population is not a simple power-law and lacks many sub-kilometer objects.

Rotational characterization of Hayabusa II target Asteroid (162173) 1999 JU3

The Japanese Space Agency’s Hayabusa II mission is scheduled to rendezvous with and return a sample from the near-Earth Asteroid (162173) 1999 JU3. Previous visible-wavelength spectra of this object show significant variability across multiple epochs which has been attributed to a compositionally heterogeneous surface. We present new visible and near-infrared spectra to demonstrate that thermally altered carbonaceous chondrites are plausible compositional analogs, however this is a tentative association due to a lack of prominent absorption features in our data. We have also conducted a series of high signal-to-noise visible-wavelength observations to investigate the reported surface heterogeneity. Our time series of visible spectra do not show variability at a precision level of a few percent. This result suggests two most likely possibilities. One, that the surface of 1999 JU3 is homogenous and that unaccounted for systematic effects are causing spectral variation across epochs. Or two, that the surface of 1999 JU3 is regionally heterogenous, in which case existing shape models suggest that any heterogeneity must be limited to terrains smaller than approximately 5% of the total surface area. These new observations represent the last opportunity before both the launch and return of the Hayabusa II spacecraft to perform ground-based characterization of this asteroid. Ultimately, these predictions for composition and surface properties will be tested upon completion of the mission.

Retrieval of two-layer cloud properties from multispectral observations using optimal estimation

[1] A method to derive two-layer cloud properties from concurrent visible, near-infrared, and infrared observations is described. It is a modification of a single-layer scheme and is applied to Spinning Enhanced Visible Infrared Imager (SEVIRI) observations and validated against coincident A-Train data, principally to evaluate the accuracy and characterize cloud top pressure (CTP) estimates. CTP values obtained from the single-layer scheme applied to multilayer clouds are significant overestimates of the upper layer value. The effect is usually larger than that on coincident IR-only retrievals from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS), and this characteristic can be traced to the use of visible wavelength observations. However, the solution cost from the optimal estimation method is found to be especially high in multilayer situations and is a strong indicator of CTP accuracy. Tighter thresholds on the solution cost select, with increasing stringency, scenes with single-layer or opaque upper layer cloud. High-cost (presumed multilayer) pixels are reprocessed with the scheme adapted to simulate a two-layer cloud and with only infrared measurements. The upper cloud is represented by the parameters of the original formulation; the additional lower cloud layer is gray and has a proxy height given by the surface temperature. Despite the simplicity of the cloud-atmosphere modeling under the upper layer, results obtained from the two-layer scheme are promising. Upper layer CTPs are of comparable accuracy to the single-layer cases, lower-layer CTPs show some useful accuracy, and upper layer optical depths correlate well with radar observations.

The Large-Grained Dust Coma of 174P/Echeclus

ABSTRACTOn 2005 December 30, Y.-J. Choi and P. R. Weissman discovered that the formerly dormant Centaur 2000 EC98 was in strong outburst. Previous observations by P. Rousselot et al. spanning a 3-year period indicated a lack of coma down to the 27 mag arcsec-2 level. We present Spitzer Space Telescope MIPS observations of this newly active Centaur—now known as 174P/Echeclus (2000 EC98)—or 60558 Echeclus—taken in 2006 late February. The images show strong signal at both the 24 and 70 μm bands and reveal an extended coma about 2′ in diameter. Analyses yield estimates of the coma signal contribution that are in excess of 90% of the total signal in the 24 μm band. Dust production estimates ranging from 1.7–4 × 102 kg s-1 are on the order of 30 times that seen in other Centaurs. Simultaneous visible-wavelength observations were also obtained with Palomar Observatory's 200-inch telescope, the 1.8-m Vatican Advanced Technology Telescope, the Bohyunsan Optical Astronomy Observatory (BOAO) 1.8-m telescope, and Table Mountain Observatory's 0.6-m telescope, revealing a coma morphology nearly identical to the mid-IR observations. The grain size distribution derived from the data yields a log particle mass power-law with slope parameter α = -0.87 ± 0.07, and is consistent with steady cometary activity, such as that observed during the Stardust spacecraft’s encounter at 81P/Wild 2, and not with an impact-driven event, such as that caused by the Deep Impact experiment.

The Disk and Extraplanar Regions of NGC 55

The stellar content of the nearby SB(s)m galaxy NGC 55 is investigated using images obtained with the Gemini South and Canada-France-Hawaii telescopes. The (K, H - K) and (K, J - K) color-magnitude diagrams (CMDs) of stars near the plane of the disk reveal signatures of large-scale star formation during recent and intermediate epochs in the form of red supergiants (RSGs) with MK = -11.5, and an asymptotic giant branch (AGB) that peaks near MK = -10. Comparisons with stellar evolution models suggest that the brightest RSGs have an age near 8 Myr. A well-defined plume, which stellar evolution models suggest contains stars with masses near the RSG-AGB transition, is detected in CMDs constructed both from infrared and visible wavelength observations. It is concluded that star formation in the thin disk of NGC 55 has occurred at a significant rate for at least the past 0.1-0.2 Gyr, and this is consistent with other indicators. The near-infrared spectral energy distribution of the integrated light near the center of the galaxy is consistent with that in other Magellanic irregular galaxies, indicating that the star-forming history of NGC 55, when averaged over timescales of 0.1-1 Gyr, has likely not been peculiar when compared with other late-type systems. Evidence is also presented that the disk contains a large population of old [log(tyr) ~ 10] stars, and it is argued that a stable disk has been in place in NGC 55 for a significant fraction of the age of the universe. At projected distances in excess of 2 kpc off of the disk plane, the brightest AGB stars have ages 10 Gyr. Thus, despite indications that dust and gas are present in the envelope surrounding the NGC 55 disk, the AGB content suggests that recently formed stars do not occur in large numbers in the extraplanar region. The (r' - i') colors of the RGB in the extraplanar region are consistent with [Fe/H] between -2.2 and -0.7, with the majority of stars having [Fe/H] > -1.2, and the mean metallicity inferred from the RGB color does not change with distance above the disk plane. Thus, the stellar component in the extraplanar envelope is well mixed, at least in terms of metallicity. The mean metallicity of RGB stars is in excellent agreement with that measured in the extraplanar H II regions EHR 1 and 2, suggesting that the age-metallicity relation in this part of NGC 55 has been flat for at least a few Gyr. Finally, the RGB tip occurs near i' = 23.1 in the extraplanar region, and a distance modulus of 26.5 is computed from this feature.

An auroral flare at Jupiter

Jupiter's aurora is the most powerful in the Solar System. It is powered largely by energy extracted from planetary rotation, although there seems also to be a contribution from the solar wind. This contrasts with Earth's aurora, which is generated through the interaction of the solar wind with the magnetosphere. The major features of Jupiter's aurora (based on far-ultraviolet, near-infrared and visible-wavelength observations) include a main oval that generally corotates with the planet and a region of patchy, diffuse emission inside the oval on Jupiter's dusk side. Here we report the discovery of a rapidly evolving, very bright and localized emission poleward of the northern main oval, in a region connected magnetically to Jupiter's outer magnetosphere. The intensity of the emission increased by a factor of 30 within 70 s, and then decreased on a similar timescale, all captured during a single four-minute exposure. This type of flaring emission has not previously been reported for Jupiter (similar, but smaller, transient events have been observed at Earth), and it may be related directly to changes in the solar wind.

Near-infrared photometry of the Galilean satellites

The present near-IR (2.2-, 3.8-, 4.8-micron) lightcurves and phase coefficients for the Galilean satellites notes the geometric albedo of Io to include volcanic emission at the two longer wavelengths, although no major outbursts were detected during the 1982-1983 period of these observations. The trend of decreasing albedo with increasing wavelength exhibited by Ganymede and Europa is consistent with their possession of icy surfaces. The results obtained for Callisto are consistent with visible-wavelength observations of other dark solar system objects.

Optical and radio observations for the BL Lacertae objects 1219 + 28, 0851 + 202, and 1400 + 162

Radio- and visible-wavelength observations for the BL Lac object 1219 + 28 (ON 231, W Com) are reported along with optical observations of 0851 + 202 (OJ 287), and radio data for 1400 + 162 (4C 16.39, OQ 100). The obtained data consist of imaging and surface photometry for both 1219 + 28 and 0851 + 202, as well as spectra for 1219 + 28, and Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) observations for 1219 + 28 and 1400 + 162. Two emission features have been observed in the spectrum of 1219 + 28. Radio observations of 1219 + 28 in three frequencies reveal the presence of a radio jet with at least three components. The obtained results for 1219 + 28 support previous conclusions that at least some BL Lac objects are located at the center of elliptical galaxies.