Infrared scans of Saturn

Scans are presented at five wavelengths between 7.8 and 25 microns north-south along Saturn's central meridian and east-west parallel to the equator through the subearth point. The brightening of Saturn's South Pole at 12.7 microns was more enhanced in 1977 than in 1978 due to the 5 deg greater declination of the polar axis in 1977. There is a plateau in the Southern Hemisphere between -30 and -60 deg latitude in the 7.8 and 12.7 micron scans. The apparent temperature of the rings decreased as Saturn approached the equinox. It is found generally that the strongest ring emission arises from the C ring.