1999/02/05 by R. W. Carlson · 1 citation
Physics and Astronomy · Earth and Planetary Sciences · #Astro and Planetary Science #Stellar, planetary, and galactic studies #Atmospheric Ozone and Climate
paper · doi:10.1126/science.283.5403.820
openalex publication_date 1999/02/05 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/23
An off-limb scan of Callisto was conducted by the Galileo near-infrared mapping spectrometer to search for a carbon dioxide atmosphere. Airglow in the carbon dioxide nu3 band was observed up to 100 kilometers above the surface and indicates the presence of a tenuous carbon dioxide atmosphere with surface pressure of 7.5 x 10(-12) bar and a temperature of about 150 kelvin, close to the surface temperature. A lifetime on the order of 4 years is suggested, based on photoionization and magnetospheric sweeping. Either the atmosphere is transient and was formed recently or some process is currently supplying carbon dioxide to the atmosphere.