Publication Date:
2019-07-12
Description:
New polarization measurements of Io were made with two different polarimeters at 3.8 and 4.8 microns. The measurements, at phase angles of about 2 deg, detect the polarization of reflected sunlight at both wavelengths. Only upper limits can be determined for the volcanic activity in 1986, but these limits show that there has been a remarkable decrease in activity, particularly of the Loki volcano, at these short wavelengths. The 1984 data (Goguen and Sinton (1985) are reanalyzed with the new model, which includes polarization of reflected sunlight. The large amount of thermal emission from the Loki volcano in 1984 produced a polarization that was dominant over that of reflected sunlight.
Keywords:
LUNAR AND PLANETARY EXPLORATION
Type:
Astronomical Journal (ISSN 0004-6256); 96; 1095-110
Format:
text
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