Two Bright Spots on Saturn's Globe as Observed by VOYAGER-2
Abstract
Two bright spots shown by Voyager 2 images on Saturn's north temperate belt are discussed in terms of a simple photometric model in which the brightness differences are caused by obscuring matter above the main cloud layer. In the ultraviolet light, in which scattering by small particles is very effective, the spots are invisible. In the violet light they seem to be holes in the dark matter and therefore the brighter layer below it becomes visible. Also they could be rises in the bright matter. In the green light the spots are more complicated since this wavelength interval contains very strong emission spectra lines of ammonia.
- Publication:
-
Moon and Planets
- Pub Date:
- December 1983
- DOI:
- 10.1007/BF00930948
- Bibcode:
- 1983M&P....29..225J
- Keywords:
-
- Astronomical Photometry;
- Brightness Distribution;
- Planetology;
- Saturn Atmosphere;
- Ammonia;
- Astronomical Models;
- Astronomical Photography;
- Dark Matter;
- Emission Spectra;
- Line Spectra;
- Radiant Flux Density;
- Ultraviolet Radiation;
- Voyager 2 Spacecraft;
- Lunar and Planetary Exploration