Infrared Spectroscopy of Jupiter's Atmosphere after the A and E Impacts of Comet Shoemaker–Levy 9

Infrared spectra of Jupiter's atmosphere were obtained with the infrared spectrometer (IRS) on the 1.5-m telescope at the Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory (CTIO) during the first 2 days of the impacts of the fragments of Comet Shoemaker–Levy 9 (1993e). We monitored 3.51 ± 0.17 μm radiation from the impact areas, undisturbed areas, and auroral regions of Jupiter after the A and E impacts. The strong emission of a portion of the P-branch of the ν3band of CH4was detected on the A impact area 4 hr after the impact. H+3emissions are found to be decreased at the A and E impact sites after 4 hr and 10 hr 50 min of the impacts, respectively, compared with undisturbed areas at the same latitude. The temperatures of the southern H+3aurora were normal within the first several hours following the A and E impacts.