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The occultation of 28 Sgr by TitanWe present a comprehensive analysis of data obtained during the 1989 July 3 occultation of 28 Sgr by Titan. The data set includes 23 lightcurves from 15 separate stations, spanning wavelengths from 0.36 to 0.89 micron. A detailed model of the structure of Titan's atmosphere in the altitude range 250 to 450 km is developed, giving the distribution of temperature, pressure, haze optical depth, and zonal wind velocity as a function of altitude and latitude. Haze layers detected in Titan's stratosphere are about one scale height higher than inferred from Voyager data, and show a wavelength dependence indicative of particle sizes on the order of 0.1 micron. A marked north-south dichotomy in haze density is observed with a transition to lower density south of about -20 deg latitude. Zonal wind speeds are inferred from global distortions from spherical symmetry and are of the order of 100 m/s with significant increase toward higher latitudes. Titan's high atmosphere shows substantial axial symmetry; the position angle of the symmetry axis is equal to the position angle of Saturn's spin axis to within about 1 deg.
Document ID
19940036407
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Hubbard, W. B.
(Arizona Univ. Tucson, United States)
Sicardy, Bruno
(Paris VI, Univ.; Paris, Observatoire, Meudon, France)
Miles, R.
(Manley Observatory United Kingdom)
Hollis, A. J.
(British Astronomical Association London, United Kingdom)
Forrest, R. W.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Nicolson, I. K. M.
(Hertfordshire Univ. Observatory, Bayfordbury, United Kingdom)
Appleby, G.
(Royal Greenwich Observatory Cambridge, United Kingdom)
Beisker, W.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Bittner, C.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Bode, H.-J.
(IOTA Hannover, Germany)
Date Acquired
August 16, 2013
Publication Date
March 1, 1993
Publication Information
Publication: Astronomy and Astrophysics
Volume: 269
Issue: 2-Jan
ISSN: 0004-6361
Subject Category
Lunar And Planetary Exploration
Accession Number
94A13062
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAGW-596
CONTRACT_GRANT: NSF INT-89-07133
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAGW-1555
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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