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Hydrogen Lβ and Lα emission lines observed from the interplanetary medium by the Voyager UV spectrometer

Abstract

OBSERVATIONS of the interstellar medium in the 500–1,700 Å region of the optical spectrum reveals three measurable lines identified as He (584 Å), H Ly-β (1,025 Å), H Ly-α (1,216 Å). The origination of these emissions is dominated by resonance scattering of solar radiation by the interplanetary medium. Here we discuss the first measurements of the H Ly-β line by the Voyager ultraviolet spectrometers and our ability to detect sources other than local singly scattered radiation. The Voyager spectrometers1 were designed primarily for observation of planetary atmospheric emission.

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SANDEL, B., SHEMANSKY, D. & BROADFOOT, A. Hydrogen Lβ and Lα emission lines observed from the interplanetary medium by the Voyager UV spectrometer. Nature 274, 666–667 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1038/274666a0

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