We recently initiated a synoptic broadband imaging
program targeting the Io plasma torus at
[S II] 6731Å.
These data are acquired on the west auxiliary
telescope (0.81 m primary) of the McMath-Pierce
Facility on Kitt
Peak, and imaged through an interference filter in a custom
instrument. Our field of view of ~7' and plate scale of 0.794"/pixel
captures both sides of the torus, along with Jupiter itself, in the
same image. A neutral density filter attenuates Jupiter, allowing us
to use it for spatial alignment and intensity calibration. Jupiter's
moons are blocked as necessary with small, moveable masks. To minimize
smearing from the motion of the torus (one full revolution every ~10
hours), we restrict most integrations to ten minutes. The constraints
of primary aperture and integration time are severe, but allow us to
obtain the long telescope access times necessary to study the complex,
time-variable behavior of the plasma torus.
In September and October 1997 we acquired the first data
from this program: 260 images over 20 nights. We present
here these data and our initial analysis of them.
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Copyright © 1999 R. Carey Woodward, Jr. and/or the Board
of Regents of the University of Wisconsin, as their interests may
lie. All rights reserved. When citing this paper, please use this information.