Recent Decameter-Wave Observations of Jupiter, Saturn, and Venus.

Abstract

Decameter-wave-length radio observations of Jupiter, Saturn, and Venus have been made at a number of frequencies from both Northern and Southern hemispheres of the earth during 1959 and 1960. While the results are negative for Venus and inconclusive for Saturn, extensive non-thermal radio noise has been recorded in the case of Jupiter. The observations have permitted a redetermination to be made of the rotational period of the Jovian radio sources, and a statistical analysis has been made of the polarization of the noise bursts. Jupiter radio outbursts showed a maximum probability of occurrence near a frequency of 18 Mc/s, with individual pulses displaying spectral widths of less than 1 Mc/s. Over-all Jovian activity showed an inverse correlation with sunspot number, although there is evidence that individual noise storms may be triggered by solar particles. Photoelectric observations made of Jupiter during radio-noise storms showed no light-variations within the sensitivity limits of the equipment used.