Infrared Spectroscopy of Jupiter in 1970 and in the 1990s

Abstract

Much of Charles Townes’ career in astrophysics has been devoted to studying the interstellar medium, in particular the center of the Milky Way, and molecular clouds in the spiral arms of our galaxy and others. However, since the early days of infrared astronomical spectroscopy, in the late 1960s and early 1970s when some of his graduate students (myself included) were developing spectrometers for use in the 10 μm atmospheric window, he also has had an interest in spectroscopy of planetary atmospheres and, in particular, the atmosphere of Jupiter. Whether this originally was because Jupiter was interesting in itself or because Jupiter’s atmosphere contains ammonia, a molecule that Townes understands better than anyone ever has and perhaps ever will, I am not certain.