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Copernicus measurement of the Jovian Lyman-alpha emission and its aeronomical significanceIt is pointed out that the intensity of the Lyman-alpha emission is a good indicator of the principal aeronomical processes on the major planets. The high-resolution ultraviolet spectrometer aboard the Orbiting Astronomical Observatory Copernicus was used in 1980 April and May to detect the Jovian Lyman-alpha emission by spectroscopically discriminating it from other Doppler shifted Lyman-alpha emissions such as those of the geocorona, and the interplanetary medium. Taking into consideration the reported emission data, it appears that an unusually large energy input due to the particle precipitation in the auroral region must have been responsible for the large observed Lyman-alpha intensity during the Voyager encounter. At most other times, the observed Jovian Lyman-alpha intensity can be explained, within the range of statistical uncertainty, by a model that takes into consideration the solar EUV flux, the solar Lyman-alpha flux, the high exospheric temperature, and the eddy diffusion coefficient without energy input from the auroral sources.
Document ID
19830030924
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
External Source(s)
Authors
Atreya, S. K.
(Michigan Univ. Ann Arbor, MI, United States)
Kerr, R. B.
(Michigan, University Ann Arbor, MI, United States)
Upson, W. L., II
(Princeton University New Observatory, Princeton, NJ, United States)
Festou, M. C.
(Michigan Univ. Ann Arbor, MI, United States)
Donahue, T. M.
(Michigan Univ. Ann Arbor, MI, United States)
Barker, E. S.
(Michigan Univ. Ann Arbor, MI, United States)
Cochran, W. D.
(Michigan Univ. Ann Arbor, MI, United States)
Bertaux, J. L.
(Michigan Univ. Ann Arbor, MI, United States)
Date Acquired
August 11, 2013
Publication Date
October 1, 1982
Publication Information
Publication: Astrophysical Journal
Subject Category
Lunar And Planetary Exploration
Accession Number
83A12142
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NSG-7404
CONTRACT_GRANT: NGR-44-012-152
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAG5-109
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAG5-114
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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