The UVS is a very specialized type of light meter that is sensitive to
ultraviolet light. It determines when certain atoms or ions are present,
or when certain physical processes are going on. The instrument looks for
specific colors of ultraviolet light that certain elements and compounds
are known to emit.
The Sun emits a large range of colors of light. If
sunlight passes through an atmosphere, certain elements and molecules in
the atmosphere will absorb very specific frequencies of light. If the
UVS, when looking at filtered sunlight, notices the absence of any of
these specific colors, then particular elements and/or compounds have
been detected. This process is call identifying elements or compounds by
atomic absorption.
UVS Science Objectives
- To determine the scattering properties of the lower planetary
atmospheres.
- To determine the distribution of constituents with height.
- To determine the extent and distribution of hydrogen corona
of the planets and satellites.
- To investigate night airglow and auroral
activity.
- To determine the UV scattering properties and optical depths
of planetary rings.
- To search for emissions from the rings and from any ring “atmosphere”
A Sideways Diagram of the UVS:
UVS - The Ultraviolet Spectrometer covers the
wavelength
range of 40 nm to 180 nm looking at
planetary
atmospheres and interplanetary space
