Medium-resolution ( 3800) Near-infrared Spectrum of Charon from 1.47-2.38 μm
Abstract
Spectra showing a clearly spatially separated Pluto and Charon were obtained using the Keck/OSIRIS instrument and adaptive optics from 2010 to 2013. Spectra were obtained in the near-infrared with the Hbb (1.47-1.80 μm) and Kbb (1.97-2.38 μm) filters with an average spectral resolution of 3800. A total of 39 Pluto/Charon spectra were obtained in the Hbb band and 45 Pluto/Charon spectra were obtained in the Kbb band. Preliminary analysis of averaging all individual Charon spectra in each band resulted in spectra with a signal-to-noise of ~25 per 0.2 nm in Hbb and ~27 per 0.25 nm in Kbb. This high-signal-to-noise, medium-spectral-resolution Charon spectrum will allow us to confirm or deny the presence of previously claimed ice species, undertake a search for ice species as yet undetected on the surface, and re-tool expectations for the New Horizons flyby of Charon in July 2015. This work was funded in part by NASA's Planetary Astronomy Program and by the NASA Earth and Space Science Fellowship Program.
- Publication:
-
AAS/Division for Planetary Sciences Meeting Abstracts #46
- Pub Date:
- November 2014
- Bibcode:
- 2014DPS....4640403H