Stellar Occultation Studies of Giant Planet Systems

9322115颗艾略特掩星可以探测太阳系外行星的环系和大气层，空间分辨率为几公里--大约比任何其他基于地球的方法的分辨率高一千倍。詹姆斯·埃利奥特博士和海蒂·哈梅尔博士将观察1994-1998年期间发生的巨大行星系统最高质量的掩星活动。他们将使用这些数据来研究天王星、木星、土星、土卫六和海王星的光环和/或大气的各种物理特征。该奖项的第一年包括支持本科生参与研究工作。

9322115 Elliot Stellar occultations can probe ring systems and atmospheres of planets in the outer Solar System with spatial resolutions of a few kilometers -- about a thousand times better than the resolution of any other Earth-based method. Drs. James Elliot and Heidi Hammel will observe the highest quality occultations by the giant planet systems that occur during the period 1994-1998. They will use these data to investigate various physical characteristics of rings and/or atmospheres of Uranus, Jupiter, Saturn, Titan, and Neptune. The first year of the award includes support to involve undergraduate students in the research effort.