J AND H FILTER BRIGHTNESS MODELS OF SATURN

Authors

Richard Willis Schmude Jr., Gordon State College, 419 College Dr. Barnesville GA 30204Follow

Abstract

The writer has carried out 249 J and H filter brightness measurements of Saturn from 2014 through 2019. The J and H filters are sensitive to near infrared wavelengths of 1.25 and 1.65 microns, respectively. The measurements cover phase angles of between 0.14 and 5.8 degrees and ring tilt angles between 21.7 and 26.8 degrees. A multiple regression calculation was carried out for each filter and the results were fit to the equation X = a + ba + cSIN(B) + dSIN(B)EXP(-3.1a) – 5LOG(r D). In this equation X is either the J or H filter brightness in stellar magnitudes, a, b, c and d are adjustable parameters, a is the phase angle of Saturn, B is the ring tilt angle, r is the Saturn-Sun distance in astronomical units (au) and D is the Saturn-Earth distance in au, and the EXP term is base e. It is concluded that the best model for the J filter is a = –9.714, b = 0.0287, c = –2.585, d = –0.2539. The best model for the H filter is a = –9.830, b = 0.0348, c = –1.604 and d = –0.594. The standard error for both models is 0.05 magnitudes.

Acknowledgements

The writer whould like to thank the Gordon State College Instructional Technology Department for their assistance.

Recommended Citation

Schmude, Richard Willis Jr. (2020) "J AND H FILTER BRIGHTNESS MODELS OF SATURN," Georgia Journal of Science, Vol. 78, No. 1, Article 125.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.gaacademy.org/gjs/vol78/iss1/125