Propane on Titan
Abstract
We present the first observations of propane (C3H8) on Titan that unambiguously resolve propane features from other numerous stratospheric emissions. This is accomplished using a R=λ/δλ~105 spectrometer (the Texas Echelon Cross Echelle Spectrograph) to observe propane's ν26 rotation-vibration band near 748 cm-1. We find a best-fit fractional abundance of propane in Titan's stratosphere of (6.2+/-1.2)×10-7 in the altitude range to which we are sensitive (90-250 km or 13-0.24 mbar).
- Publication:
-
The Astrophysical Journal
- Pub Date:
- November 2003
- DOI:
- 10.1086/379816
- arXiv:
- arXiv:astro-ph/0309653
- Bibcode:
- 2003ApJ...597L..65R
- Keywords:
-
- Infrared: Solar System;
- Molecular Data;
- Planets and Satellites: Individual: Titan;
- Astrophysics
- E-Print:
- accepted to ApJL 18 September 2003