ALBERT

Description: Three images of Venus have been returned so far by the Galileo spacecraft following an encounter with the planet on UT February 10, 1990. The images, taken at effective wavelengths of 4200 and 9900 A, characterize the global motions and distribution of haze near the Venus cloud tops and, at the latter wavelength, deep within the main cloud. Previously undetected markings are clearly seen in the near-infrared image. The global distribution of these features, which have maximum contrasts of 3 percent, is different from that recorded at short wavelengths. In particular, the 'polar collar', which is omnipresent in short wavelength images, is absent at 9900 A. The maximum contrast in the features at 4200 A is about 20 percent. The optical performance of the camera is described and is judged to be nominal.

Description: The second Mercury encounter has resulted in the acquisition of about 360 pictures of the south polar regions which provide a reliable cartographic and geologic tie between the two sides of the planet photographed on the first encounter. Stereoscopic coverage of large areas of the southern hemisphere was obtained by combining Mercury 1 and 2 pictures taken at different viewing angles. The south polar regions consist of heavily cratered terrain and intercrater plains interspersed with patches of smooth plains. No large areas of smooth plains similar to those surrounding Caloris occur in the south polar regions. No new types of terrain have been recognized, but lobate scarps are common. The second largest basin seen by Mariner 10 has been confirmed on the new photography. At high solar elevations the surface displays an abundance of rays and rayed craters.

Description: Ratio picture techniques which enhance color or polarization contrasts are proposed for Uranus imagery on the MJU79 mission. Currently available low-resolution pictures of Uranus are assessed, and specific objectives of the fly-by are described, including exploratory imaging, measurement of fundamental properties (rotation period, rotation axis orientation, diameter), and examination of atmospheric properties. An attempt is made to predict the aspect of Uranus from current knowledge about its atmosphere. It is proposed that the imaging system should emphasize photo-polarimetric observations between 5500 and 10,000 A if the planet alone is to be imaged, or it should be a high-resolution system based on the MJS one if the satellites will also be imaged. Performance of a possible high-resolution system at Uranus is assessed.

Description: A group of geometrically rectified composite pictures taken with the Mariner 10 television cameras is presented which shows the temporal development of UV markings at various locations on Venus over the last seven days of the television experiment. The pictures are of two types: one in which the development of a marking is followed in a reference frame that moves with the apparent motion of the atmosphere and a second in which the development of the markings at fixed angular distances from the subsolar meridian can be seen. By comparing these composites with Mercator projections of single Mariner frames, it is shown that: (1) large-scale markings between + and - 45 deg latitude have lifetimes in excess of four days and move en masse with the apparent motion at the equator; (2) smaller-scale markings have lifetimes between 1.5 and 4 days; (3) the polar ring, bowlike waves, circumequatorial belts, and cellular features all exhibit rapid growth, modulation, or propagation characteristics; and (4) a single dark horizontal Y-shaped marking encircles the planet. It is suggested that both the Y and the polar ring are visible manifestations of propagating waves.

Description: The second flyby of the Earth-Moon System by Galileo occurred on December 7, 1992, on its trajectory toward Jupiter. The flyby took the spacecraft over the lunar north polar region from the dark farside and continued across the illuminated nearside. This provided the first opportunity to observe northern and northeastern limb regions with a modern, multispectral imaging system with high spatial resolution (up to 1.1 km/pixel). Scientific objectives included compositional assessment of previously uncharacterized mare regions, study of various light plains materials, and assessment of dark mantle deposits (DMD) and dark halo craters (DHC). Color composite images were prepared from ratios of Galileo SSI filter data (0.76/0.41 yields red; 0.76/0.99 yields green; 0.41/0.76 yields blue) and used for preliminary comparison of units. The 0.41/0.76 ratio has been empirically correlated to Ti content of mare soils (blue is relatively high, red is relatively low). The relative strengths of the ferrous one micron absorption in mafic minerals can be compared using the 0.76/0.99 ratio. In addition, relative ages of units analyzed spectrally were determined from crater statistics using Lunar Orbiter images following the techniques of Neukum et al. Mare deposits analyzed include Mare Humboldtianum, central and eastern Mare Frigoris, Mare Crisium and other deposits in the Crisium Basin, and isolated mare patches on the northeastern lunar limb. Preliminary results show a diversity of 0.41/0.76 micron signatures, implying a wide range of titanium contents. Some light plains units are similar to units found at the Apollo 16 site; others may be ancient mare materials. Dark mantle deposits (DMD) analyzed also are available.

Description: An assessment of recent research bearing on the rotational properties of Uranus and Neptune is given. It is concluded that these properties are best described by the following estimates; URANUS: Direction of pole = alpha (1950) = 256:72 delta (1950) = -15:04 with an absolute uncertainty of about 0:2, Period = 15 to 17 hours; Sense of spin = Retrograde; NEPTUNE: alpha (1950) = 297:8; delta (1950) = + 41:2, with an uncertainty of about 4 degrees towards the pole of Triton's orbit, Period = 18.2 + or - 0.4 hours, Sense of spin = Prograde. There is a clear signature of large scale, zonal, atmospheric flows in observations of the atmosphere of Neptune. Wind velocities are at least as great as 109 m.sec-1. There is no evidence pro or con for atmospheric motions in the Uranus case.

Description: A local control network is being developed using Galileo images that cover the region north of the Apollo area and lie between 10 and 100 degrees east longitude. This network is tied to the Apollo control network and will have a positional accuracy of approximately 500-1500 m. This region has been photographed by Earth-based telescopes and the Mariner 10 and Lunar Orbiter spacecraft, but the Gallileo images are preferred for control because of their superior viewing angles, resolution, and Galileo's geometrically stable sensor. Based on Davies et al., 1987, the potential accuracy of the near-side Apollo network is estimated to be between 50 and 300 m. The laser ranging retroreflector locations at the Apollo 11, 14, and 15 sites and the Lunikhod 2 site have been determined with an accuracy of about 10 m. The locations of the ALSEP transmitters relative to the retroreflectors have also been measured. These known coordinates are used to estimate errors in the Apollo network. The telescopic control is approximately bounded by 75 degrees north and south latitude and 75 degrees east and west longitudes. The accuracy of the telescopic network is thought to be about one to two km. Thus, the Galileo network might improve coordinates in the telescopic area as well as north and east of it.

Description: Line characteristics of remotely sensed SO2 spectra near the UV are discussed, noting the implications for the interpretation of data gathered by the IUE of Io and ground-based and Pioneer spectra of Venus. It is shown that the ratio of mean line spacing to linewidth is greater than unity, and that fully resolved lines have features consistent with concepts of temperature and pressure broadening. The application of Beer's approximation for the absorption spectra of Venus and Io atmospheres is found to be incorrect. Further, the spectroscopic limit on the SO2 line data from Io observations by the IUE are interpreted as establishing a lower bound on the SO2 in the Io atmosphere. A greater concentration of SO2 in vapor equilibrium may be present in the lower atmosphere. Laboratory measurements to resolve the uncertainties regarding the UV spectroscopic data from Io and Venus are suggested.

Description: The extensive Voyager 2 EUV spectral observations of the Jovian planetary system have produced a number of significant results. The positions of the auroral zones have been defined with the aid of support imaging to the extent that the aurora is now known to correspond to the location of the planetary magnetic field lines intersecting the Io plasma torus. The observations do not preclude the possibility of a simultaneous magnetotail aurora, but if present it must not be a dominant component. Emission in molecular hydrogen has been detected from the equatorial regions of Jupiter, which indicates planetwide electron precipitation. Hydrogen Lyman alpha from the dark side of the planet has been measured at an intensity of about 1 kilorayleigh. Occultation of Alpha Leonis by Jupiter has been observed, and the data are being analyzed in detail.

Description: A comprehensive set of television pictures of Venus taken by the Mariner 10 spacecraft is presented. Included is a chronological sequence of television images illustrating the development, variety, and circulation of Venus upper-atmospheric phenomena as viewed in the near-ultraviolet. The higher-resolution images have been assembled into global mosaics to facilitate comparison. Figures and tables describing the imaging sequences have been included to provide a guide to the more complete set of 3400 Venus images on file at the National Space Science Data Center.