The upper atmosphere of Uranus - EUV occultations observed by Voyager 2
EUV (52-170 nm) solar and stellar occultation observations of the Uranian atmosphere from 500 microbar to about 1 pbar, obtained with the UV spectrometer on Voyager 2 during its encounter with Uranus in January 1986, are reported. The data are presented in extensive tables and graphs and characterized in detail. The atmosphere is found to be dominated by H2 (with very small hydrocarbon mixing ratios) out to about 1.25 Uranian radii, where atomic H becomes important. Also noted are a small (relative to Jupiter and Saturn) homopause eddy-diffusion coefficient, little difference between the atmospheres of the day and night hemispheres, high temperatures (800 + or - 100 K) above about 1-10 nbar, and number densities of several hundred H/cu cm at 2 Uranian radii. The implications of the latter finding for ring dynamics and plasma populations are explored.