Abstract
The Cassini Visual and Infrared Mapping Spectrometer (VIMS) is an imaging spectrometer covering the wavelength range 0.3-5.2 μm in 352 spectral channels, with a nominal instantaneous field of view of 0.5 mrad. The Cassini flyby of Jupiter represented a unique opportunity to accomplish two important goals: scientific observations of the jovian system and functional tests of the VIMS instrument under conditions similar to those expected to obtain during Cassini's 4-year tour of the saturnian system. Results acquired over a complete range of visual to near-infrared wavelengths from 0.3 to 5.2 μm are presented. First detections include methane fluorescence on Jupiter, a surprisingly high opposition surge on Europa, the first visual-near-IR spectra of Himalia and Jupiter's optically-thin ring system, and the first near-infrared observations of the rings over an extensive range of phase angles (0-120°). Similarities in the center-to-limb profiles of H3+ and CH4 emissions indicate that the H3+ ionospheric density is solar-controlled outside of the auroral regions. The existence of jovian NH3 absorption at 0.93 μm is confirmed. Himalia has a slightly reddish spectrum, an apparent absorption near 3 μm, and a geometric albedo of 0.06 ± 0.01 at 2.2 μm (assuming an 85-km radius). If the 3-μm feature in Himalia's spectrum is eventually confirmed, it would be suggestive of the presence of water in some form, either free, bound, or incorporated in layer-lattice silicates. Finally, a mean ring-particle radius of 10 μm is found to be consistent with Mie-scattering models fit to VIMS near-infrared observations acquired over 0-120° phase angle.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 461-470 |
| Number of pages | 10 |
| Journal | Icarus |
| Volume | 164 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Aug 1 2003 |
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Keywords
- Cassini mission
- Jovian satellites
- Jupiter
- Jupiter's ring
- Planetary atmospheres
- Planetary surfaces
- Spectroscopy
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Space and Planetary Science
- Astronomy and Astrophysics
Cite this
Observations with the Visual and Infrared Mapping Spectrometer (VIMS) during Cassini's flyby of Jupiter. / Brown, Robert H.; Baines, K. H.; Bellucci, G.; Bibring, J. P.; Buratti, B. J.; Capaccioni, F.; Cerroni, P.; Clark, R. N.; Coradini, A.; Cruikshank, D. P.; Drossart, P.; Formisano, V.; Jaumann, R.; Langevin, Y.; Matson, D. L.; McCord, T. B.; Mennella, V.; Nelson, R. M.; Nicholson, P. D.; Sicardy, B.; Sotin, C.; Amici, S.; Chamberlain, M. A.; Filacchione, G.; Hansen, G.; Hibbitts, K.; Showalter, M.
In: Icarus, Vol. 164, No. 2, 01.08.2003, p. 461-470.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Observations with the Visual and Infrared Mapping Spectrometer (VIMS) during Cassini's flyby of Jupiter
AU - Brown, Robert H.
AU - Baines, K. H.
AU - Bellucci, G.
AU - Bibring, J. P.
AU - Buratti, B. J.
AU - Capaccioni, F.
AU - Cerroni, P.
AU - Clark, R. N.
AU - Coradini, A.
AU - Cruikshank, D. P.
AU - Drossart, P.
AU - Formisano, V.
AU - Jaumann, R.
AU - Langevin, Y.
AU - Matson, D. L.
AU - McCord, T. B.
AU - Mennella, V.
AU - Nelson, R. M.
AU - Nicholson, P. D.
AU - Sicardy, B.
AU - Sotin, C.
AU - Amici, S.
AU - Chamberlain, M. A.
AU - Filacchione, G.
AU - Hansen, G.
AU - Hibbitts, K.
AU - Showalter, M.
PY - 2003/8/1
Y1 - 2003/8/1
N2 - The Cassini Visual and Infrared Mapping Spectrometer (VIMS) is an imaging spectrometer covering the wavelength range 0.3-5.2 μm in 352 spectral channels, with a nominal instantaneous field of view of 0.5 mrad. The Cassini flyby of Jupiter represented a unique opportunity to accomplish two important goals: scientific observations of the jovian system and functional tests of the VIMS instrument under conditions similar to those expected to obtain during Cassini's 4-year tour of the saturnian system. Results acquired over a complete range of visual to near-infrared wavelengths from 0.3 to 5.2 μm are presented. First detections include methane fluorescence on Jupiter, a surprisingly high opposition surge on Europa, the first visual-near-IR spectra of Himalia and Jupiter's optically-thin ring system, and the first near-infrared observations of the rings over an extensive range of phase angles (0-120°). Similarities in the center-to-limb profiles of H3+ and CH4 emissions indicate that the H3+ ionospheric density is solar-controlled outside of the auroral regions. The existence of jovian NH3 absorption at 0.93 μm is confirmed. Himalia has a slightly reddish spectrum, an apparent absorption near 3 μm, and a geometric albedo of 0.06 ± 0.01 at 2.2 μm (assuming an 85-km radius). If the 3-μm feature in Himalia's spectrum is eventually confirmed, it would be suggestive of the presence of water in some form, either free, bound, or incorporated in layer-lattice silicates. Finally, a mean ring-particle radius of 10 μm is found to be consistent with Mie-scattering models fit to VIMS near-infrared observations acquired over 0-120° phase angle.
AB - The Cassini Visual and Infrared Mapping Spectrometer (VIMS) is an imaging spectrometer covering the wavelength range 0.3-5.2 μm in 352 spectral channels, with a nominal instantaneous field of view of 0.5 mrad. The Cassini flyby of Jupiter represented a unique opportunity to accomplish two important goals: scientific observations of the jovian system and functional tests of the VIMS instrument under conditions similar to those expected to obtain during Cassini's 4-year tour of the saturnian system. Results acquired over a complete range of visual to near-infrared wavelengths from 0.3 to 5.2 μm are presented. First detections include methane fluorescence on Jupiter, a surprisingly high opposition surge on Europa, the first visual-near-IR spectra of Himalia and Jupiter's optically-thin ring system, and the first near-infrared observations of the rings over an extensive range of phase angles (0-120°). Similarities in the center-to-limb profiles of H3+ and CH4 emissions indicate that the H3+ ionospheric density is solar-controlled outside of the auroral regions. The existence of jovian NH3 absorption at 0.93 μm is confirmed. Himalia has a slightly reddish spectrum, an apparent absorption near 3 μm, and a geometric albedo of 0.06 ± 0.01 at 2.2 μm (assuming an 85-km radius). If the 3-μm feature in Himalia's spectrum is eventually confirmed, it would be suggestive of the presence of water in some form, either free, bound, or incorporated in layer-lattice silicates. Finally, a mean ring-particle radius of 10 μm is found to be consistent with Mie-scattering models fit to VIMS near-infrared observations acquired over 0-120° phase angle.
KW - Cassini mission
KW - Jovian satellites
KW - Jupiter
KW - Jupiter's ring
KW - Planetary atmospheres
KW - Planetary surfaces
KW - Spectroscopy
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0041929157&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0041929157&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/S0019-1035(03)00134-9
DO - 10.1016/S0019-1035(03)00134-9
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:0041929157
VL - 164
SP - 461
EP - 470
JO - Icarus
JF - Icarus
SN - 0019-1035
IS - 2
ER -