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Using the transit of Venus to probe the upper planetary atmosphere

Author

Listed:
  • Fabio Reale

    (Università di Palermo
    INAF/Osservatorio Astronomico di Palermo)

  • Angelo F. Gambino

    (Università di Palermo)

  • Giuseppina Micela

    (INAF/Osservatorio Astronomico di Palermo)

  • Antonio Maggio

    (INAF/Osservatorio Astronomico di Palermo)

  • Thomas Widemann

    (Universitè de Versailles-Saint-Quentin, ESR/DYPAC EA 2449, Observatoire de Paris, LESIA, UMR CNRS 8109)

  • Giuseppe Piccioni

    (INAF-IAPS (Istituto di Astrofisica e Planetologia Spaziali))

Abstract

During a planetary transit, atoms with high atomic number absorb short-wavelength radiation in the upper atmosphere, and the planet should appear larger during a primary transit observed in high-energy bands than in the optical band. Here we measure the radius of Venus with subpixel accuracy during the transit in 2012 observed in the optical, ultraviolet and soft X-rays with Hinode and Solar Dynamics Observatory missions. We find that, while Venus’s optical radius is about 80 km larger than the solid body radius (the top of clouds and haze), the radius increases further by >70 km in the extreme ultraviolet and soft X-rays. This measures the altitude of the densest ion layers of Venus’s ionosphere (CO2 and CO), useful for planning missions in situ, and a benchmark case for detecting transits of exoplanets in high-energy bands with future missions, such as the ESA Athena.

Suggested Citation

  • Fabio Reale & Angelo F. Gambino & Giuseppina Micela & Antonio Maggio & Thomas Widemann & Giuseppe Piccioni, 2015. "Using the transit of Venus to probe the upper planetary atmosphere," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 6(1), pages 1-6, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:6:y:2015:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms8563
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms8563
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