NSF/AFOSR Astronomy: Imaging Studies of the Transient Atmospheres of Jupiter's Moons

Trustees Of Boston University, Boston

Investigators

Abstract

Mendillo 0088340 Abstract This research will use the Advanced Electro-Optical System (AEOS) of the Air Force with its operational adaptive optics to obtain high-resolution images of the potassium in the atmospheres of Io and Europa. This work will provide an analysis and observational verification for the sources and the sinks of potassium. The scattered light performance of the telescope system will be improved by using coronagraphic optics in addition to the adaptive optics. The adaptive optics will sharpen up the satellite images and an occulting disk will be used at the primary focal plane to reduce the bright image of the satellite surface to image the satellite atmosphere against the cold dark space background. The instrument will employ an innovative image slicer recently developed to detect gases in planetary atmospheres. ***