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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 127 records · Page 7
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NASA NTRS1976

Exploration of the giant planets by infrared spectroscopy

The infrared spectrometer and radiometer for the Mariner-Jupiter-Saturn mission is described. Results of Nimbus and Mariner 9 IR spectroscopy of earth and Mars are used as examples to demonstrate the power and diversity of the technique. Determinations of planetary surface compositions, surface temperatures, vertical temperature profiles, surface pressures, and atmospheric constituents are summarized. Applications to Jupiter and Saturn are briefly mentioned.

Hanel, R. A.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Calculations of the evolution of the giant planets

Evolutionary calculations are presented for spherically symmetric protoplanetary configurations with a homogeneous solar composition and with masses of 1000, 1500, 28,500 and 42,000 solar masses. Recent improvements in equation-of-state and opacity calculations are incorporated. Sequences start as subcondensations in the solar nebula with densities of 10 to the -10th to 10 to the -11th g/cu cm, evolve through a hydrostatic phase lasting 100 thousand to 10 million years, undergo dynamic collapse due to dissociation of molecular hydrogen, and regain hydrostatic equilibrium with densities of about 1 g/cu cm. The nature of the objects at the onset of the final phase of cooling and contraction is discussed and compared with previous calculations.

Bodenheimer, P.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Interiors of the giant planets - Recent advances

It is shown that new experimental evidence that the molecular to metallic transition in hydrogen takes place near 2 Mb rather than 3 Mb affects only slightly the current models of Jupiter but a more radical change has to be noted for the model of Saturn. Magnetic field and luminosity data indicate that in this planet the metallic H-He layer is actually split into an inhomogeneous upper layer and an He-rich lower layer. The recent three-layer model of Uranus accounts better for various observational constraints than the previous models despite the uncertainty about the planet's rotation period. The models of the interior of Neptune are still rather uncertain.

Smoluchowski, R.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Precision flux density measurements of the giant planets at 8420 MHz

Precision measurements of the 3.56 cm flux densities of Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune are reported. The results are compared with previously published measurements as a means of: (1) remotely sensing long-term changes in the microwave emission from the atmospheres of these planets; (2) measuring the effects of Saturn's rings on the disk temperature as observed from earth at different ring inclination angles.

Turegano, J. A.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Voyager 2 - A grand tour of the giant planets

The current Voyager 2 multiple gravity assist mission encountering Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune is reviewed. Included in the discussion are an historical background of the mission, emphasizing objectives and constraints, and the mission synthesis and selection for the Saturn, Uranus and Neptune encounters. The philosophy, options, characteristics and constraints of the encounters are also discussed, including the avoidance of rings, penetration into magnetic fields, and date synchronization. In addition, the trajectory selection process which resulted in the choice of the specific outer planet tour is summarized, and current reevaluations are presented.

Sergeyevsky, A. B.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Precision flux density measurements of the giant planets at 8420 MHz

Precision measurements of the 3.56 cm flux densities of Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune are reported. The results are compared with previously published measurements as a means of: remotely sensing long-term changes in the microwave emission from the atmospheres of these planets and measuring the effects of Saturn's rings on the disk temperature as observed from earth at different ring inclination angles.

Turegano, J. A.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Atmospheres of the giant planets

A discussion of the NASA Voyager 1 and 2 observations of the atmospheres of Jupiter and Saturn is presented. Differences and similarities are noted. Observational evidence that the small scale eddies transport momentum into the mean zonal flow in Jupiter's atmosphere is cited. Low contrast and poorly defined cloud features inhibit detailed analysis of the Saturnian data.

Beebe, R. F.↗
NASA NTRS1983

The interiors of the giant planets - 1983

It is noted the even though the current model of Jupiter is still based on certain somewhat vexatious approximations, it appears to satisfy the main observational constraints. Saturn's interior is much better understood today than heretofore, although the quantitative aspects of the role of the miscibility gap in the hydrogen-helium system have not yet been entirely resolved. Considerable attention has been given to the interiors of Uranus and Neptune, and the outstanding question appears to be the location and amount of ice and methane present in their outer layers. It is noted that both the two- and three-layer models are moderately successful. Serious difficulties follow from the considerable uncertainties concerning the rotational periods of both planets. In addition, the estimates of the internal heat fluxes and of the magnetic fields of both planets are not sufficiently certain.

Smoluchowski, R.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Far Infrared and Submillimeter Observations of the Giant Planets

Far infrared measurements of the effective temperatures of Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune were made. The measurements presented here cover the range from 35-1000 micrometers in relatively narrow bands. The observations at lambda 350 micrometers were made at the 3m NASA Infrared Telescope Facility (IRTF) of the Mauna Kea Observatory; those at lambda 350 micrometer were made on the Kuiper Airborne Observatory (KAO). All observations of Saturn were made when the ring inclination to Earth was 1.7 deg assuring an unambiguous measurement of the flux from the disk itself. Mars was used as the calibration reference. The results represent a consistent set of calibration standards. In these measurements, it is assumed that sub b(lambda = 350 micrometers) = T sub (lambda 350 micrometers). Measurements have been made of roughly 50% of the total flux emitted by Jupiter, 65% by Saturn, and 92% by Uranus and Neptune. These measurements therefore permit a considerable reduction in the uncertainties associated with the bolometric thermal outputs of the planets. The effective temperatures (T sub e) and the ratios of emitted to absorbed solar radiation were calculated.

Loewenstein, R. F.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Chemical evolution on the giant planets and Titan

The atmospheres of Jupiter, Saturn, Neptune and Uranus, and Titan are characterized chemically in a review of recent observational and theoretical investigations. Compositions are indicated in tables, and special emphasis is given to the formation of HCN on Jupiter, the differentiation of polar and equatorial zones in the Jovian atmosphere, the mechanisms responsible for the color of the Great Red Spot, and the possible origin of the N2-dominated atmosphere of Titan.

Caldwell, J.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Far infrared and submillimeter brightness temperatures of the giant planets

The brightness temperatures of Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune in the range 35 to 1000 micron. The effective temperatures derived from the measurements, supplemented by shorter wavelength Voyager data for Jupiter and Saturn, are 126.8 + or - 4.5 K, 93.4 + or - 3.3 K, 58.3 + or - 2.0 K, and 60.3 + or - 2.0 K, respectively. The implications of the measurements for bolometric output and for atmospheric structure and composition are discussed. The temperature spectrum of Jupiter shows a strong peak at approx. 350 microns followed by a deep valley at approx. 450 to 500 microns. Spectra derived from model atmospheres qualitatively reproduced these features but do not fit the data closely.

Hildebrand, R. H.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Interiors of the giant planets

The Neptune central flash data obtained from the August 20, 1985 occultation was analyzed. The three main objectives of the analysis, which combined the study of the CTIO data with the ESO data obtained by the Meudon groups were: deduce the oblateness, equatorial radius, and pole positon angle of Neptune from a combined analysis of the limb-occultation and central-flash data; determine the temperature/absorption profile in Neptune's atmosphere in the region probed by the occultation data (from 1 microbar to about 0.2 mbar), as well as atmospheric distortions produced by waves or turbulence; and search for additional Neptune ring arcs. Results were discussed in terms of the three main objectives.

Hubbard, W. B.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Far-infrared and submillimeter brightness temperatures of the giant planets

The brightness temperatures of Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune were measured in the 35-1000 micron range with the 3-m NASA Infrared Telescope Facility (at wavelengths greater than 350 microns) and with the Kuiper Airborne Observatory (at wavelengths less than 350 microns). The data indicate the presence in Jupiter's spectrum of excess radiation (compared to theoretical models) at 300-400 microns. In addition, slightly less flux was observed from Saturn at 200 microns than predicted by atmospheric models, which suggests the possible presence of an unmodeled absorber. The submillimeter fluxes from Uranus and Neptune appear to be most consistent with low mixing ratios (less than 1 percent) of CH4 in their deep atmospheres.

Hildebrand, R. H.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Interiors of the giant planets

The interior structure of the Jovian planets was studied by means of observational data obtained by ground-based astronomy. Recent work was oriented toward a determination of oblateness from occultation measurements of the shape of planetary atmospheres. This provides a determination of the degree of central condensation of the planet, which is then compared with interior models and theoretical equations of state. As a serendipitous result of the attempts to measure the oblateness of Neptune, a partial Neptune ring (or arc) was discovered following an occultation observation on July 22, 1984. During 1985, older observations were reexamined to determine whether Neptune arcs had been detected (but not identified) during previous occultations. It appears that Neptunian arcs may locally imitate Uranian rings, with an 1981 event resembling Uranus' epsilon ring, while an 1984 event was more similar to the thinner Uranian rings such as the alpha ring.

Hubbard, W. B.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Convection without eddy viscosity: An attempt to model the interiors of giant planets

In the theory of hydrostatic quasi-geostrophic flow in the Earth's atmosphere the principal results do not depend on the eddy viscosity. This contrasts with published theories of convection in deep rotating fluid spheres, where the wavelength of the fastest growing disturbance varies as E sup 1/3, where E, the Ekman number, is proportional to the eddy viscosity. A new theory of quasi-columnar motions in stably stratified fluid spheres attempts to capture the luck of the meteorologists. The theory allows one to investigate the stability of barotropic and baroclinic zonal flows that extend into the planetary interior. It is hypothesized that the internal heat Jupiter and Saturn comes out not radially but on sloping surfaces defined by the internal entropy distribution. To test the hypothesis one searches for basic states in which the wavelength of the fastest-growing disturbance remains finite as E tends to zero, and is which the heat flux vector is radially outward and poleward.

Ingersoll, A. P.↗
NASA NTRS1986

A proposal for adopting a standard coordinate system for defining atmospheric nomenclature for the giant planets

Although the albedo of specific belts and zones varies as a function of time, there is evidence that wind maxima may be fixed in latitude. Before considering a standard notation for wind jets, it is necessary to establish a coordinate system within which the nomenclature would be defined. Traditionally, the BAA has used planetographic latitudes; however, this system is based not only on an accurate determination of the polar diameter but also on the assumption that the equipotential surfaces can be represented by biaxial ellipsoids. The International Astronomical Union strives to adopt unambiguous nomenclature that will be universally acceptable. It is proposed that planetocentric coordinates be utilized and that a standardized value of the ratio of the polar diameter to the equatorial diameter be established for each planet to facilitate transformation into planetographic coordinates.

Beebe, R.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Interiors of the giant planets

This theoretical/observational project constrains interior structure of Jovian planets through observational data. Researchers continue to concentrate on Neptune in support of the 1989 Voyager encounter. Occultations of stars by Neptune are observed from the Tucson area and from Chile to obtain information about Neptune's atmosphere and to continue to search for Neptune arcs. Occultations by other solar system objects are also observed as part of collaborative efforts from time to time. New results on the structure of scintillations in the central flash occultation by Neptune on 20 August 1985 were derived. Analysis shows that scintillations are present throughout the lightcurve, both near the half-intensity points (at a pressure of 1 microbar) and near the central flash (at 0.4 mbar). Near the planetary limb, the scintillations are extended parallel to the limb; near the shadow center, they are extended parallel to the limb; near the shadow center, they are extended in a radial direction. Researchers collaborated with Ramesh Narayan to derive a theory relating the scintillations to density fluctuations in Neptune's atmosphere. The theory will ultimately enable researchers to test whether the scintillations are caused by internal gravity waves in Neptune's upper atmosphere.

Hubbard, W. B.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Banded surface flow maintained by convection in a model of the rapidly rotating giant planets

In three-dimensional numerical simulations of a rapidly rotating Boussinesq fluid shell, thermally driven convection in the form of columns parallel to the rotation axis generates an alternately directed mean zonal flow with a cylindrical structure. The mean structure at the outer spherical surface consists of a broad eastward flow at the equator and alternating bands of westward and eastward flows at higher latitudes in both hemispheres. The banded structure persists even though the underlying convective motions are time-dependent. These results, although still far from the actual motions seen on Jupiter and Saturn, provide support for theoretical suggestions that thermal convection can account for the remarkable banded flow structures on these planets.

Sun, Zi-Ping↗