Near‐IR emissions in the upper Jovian atmosphere after SL‐9 impact: Indications of possible northern counterparts

The evolution of the Jovian atmosphere as a result of the impact of SL‐9 was monitored in the near‐IR at the 3.5‐m New Technology Telescope at ESO, La Silla, from July 22–31, 1994. At the beginning of the observational run the spectra around 3.5 µm show enhanced H 3 + emissions at −44° and +44° latitude, which are distributed similarly in longitude. Later, most of the H 3 + emission is present in the northern polar region while it has faded at −44°. In the 2.1 µm range all spectra obtained at −44° lat. show a continuum associated to the impact sites on which in some cases the H 2 quadrupole line is indicated. The spatial distribution of the H 2 emission in the northern hemisphere does not show a clear correlation to the impact sites.