Spectroscopy in the study of planetary atmospheres - Abundances from the visible regionSpectrophotometric studies of three molecular constituents - hydrogen, methane, and ammonia - identified in the visible region of the spectra of the outer planets are reviewed. The history of quadrupole line observations for hydrogen molecules and the significance of the HD molecule for the dipole spectrum are considered. Approaches to quantitative estimates of methane concentration in planetary atmospheres are explained, and the detection of ammonia in the atmospheres of Jupiter and Saturn is described.
Document ID
19790029089
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Proceedings
Authors
Lutz, B. L. (Lowell Observatory, Flagstaff, Ariz.; New York, State University Stony Brook, N.Y., United States)