2008A&A...482..359K -
Astronomy and Astrophysics, volume 482, 359-363 (2008/4-4)
Long-term observations of Uranus and Neptune at 90 GHz with the IRAM 30 m telescope. (1985-2005).
KRAMER C., MORENO R. and GREVE A.
Abstract (from CDS):
The planets Uranus and Neptune with small apparent diameters are primary calibration standards. We investigate their variability at ∼90 GHz using archived data taken with the IRAM 30 m telescope during the 20 year period 1985 to 2005. We calibrate the planetary observations against non-variable secondary standards (NGC7027, NGC7538, W3OH, K3-50A) observed almost simultaneously. Between 1985 and 2005, the viewing angle of Uranus changed from south-pole to equatorial. We find that the disk brightness temperature declines by almost 10% (∼2σ) over this time span indicating that the south-pole region is significantly brighter than average. Our finding is consistent with recent long-term radio observations at 8.6GHz. Both data sets show a rapid decrease of the Uranus brightness temperature during 1993, indicating a temporal, planetary scale change. We do not find indications for a variation of Neptune's brightness temperature at the 8% level. If Uranus is to be used as a calibration source, and if accuracies better than 10% are required, the Uranus sub-earth point latitude needs to be taken into account.
Abstract Copyright:
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Journal keyword(s):
planets and satellites: individual: Uranus - planets and satellites: individual: Neptune
Simbad objects:
4
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