The Planets and Titan Observed by ISO

Thierry Fouchet (1, 2) , Bruno Bézard (1, 2) , Thérèse Encrenaz (1, 2)

1 LESIA - Laboratoire d'études spatiales et d'instrumentation en astrophysique
2 Pôle Planétologie du LESIA

Infrared spectroscopic observations of planets and Saturn's satellite Titan with the Infrared Space Observatory led to many significant discoveries that improved our understanding on the formation, physics and chemistry of these objects. The prime results achieved by ISO are: (1) a new and consistent determination of the D/H ratios on the giant planets and Titan; (2) the first precise measurement of the ¹⁵N/¹⁴N ratio in Jupiter, a valuable indicator of the protosolar nitrogen isotopic ratio; (3) the first detection of an external oxygen flux for all giant planets and Titan; (4) the first detection of some stratospheric hydrocarbons (CH₃, C₂H₄, CH₃C₂H, C₄H₂, C₆H₆); (5) the first detection of tropospheric water in Saturn; (6) the tentative detection of carbonate minerals on Mars; (7) the first thermal lightcurve of Pluto.

Domaines: Astrophysique [astro-ph]

Thierry Fouchet, Bruno Bézard, Thérèse Encrenaz. The Planets and Titan Observed by ISO. Space Science Reviews, 2005, 119, pp.123-139. ⟨10.1007/s11214-005-8061-2⟩. ⟨hal-03785640⟩