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Why the Northern Hemisphere Needs a 30-40 m Telescope and the Science at Stake: Key Targets of Opportunity on Gas and Ice Giants and their satellites

Ricardo Hueso, Leigh N. Fletcher, Damya Souami, Thierry Fouchet, Tristan Guillot, Olivier Mousis, Patrick G. J. Irwin, Michael Roman, Arrate Antuñano, Athena Coustenis, Julia de León, Sonia Fornasier, Emmanuel Lellouch, Alice Lucchetti, Noemí Pinilla-Alonso, Don Pollacco, Agustín Sánchez-Lavega, Daniel Toledo

Abstract

The Extremely Large Telescope (ELT) will transform our knowledge of the outer planets and their satellite systems; however the visibility of unique targets of opportunity with high scientific value will be reduced for northern objects. Uranus' declination favors observations from the Northern Hemisphere until 2055, and Neptune will be favored from the Northern Hemisphere from 2027 for the next 90 years. Jupiter and Saturn experience cycles of better observability from either hemisphere on cycles of 10 and 30 years. These planets and their satellite systems often offer unique opportunities for discovery through time-critical observations. We argue that a 30-m class size telescope in the Northern Hemisphere with complementary scientific instrumentation to that on the ELT will secure the possibility of observing high-impact unpredictable phenomena in these systems.

Why the Northern Hemisphere Needs a 30-40 m Telescope and the Science at Stake: Key Targets of Opportunity on Gas and Ice Giants and their satellites

Abstract

The Extremely Large Telescope (ELT) will transform our knowledge of the outer planets and their satellite systems; however the visibility of unique targets of opportunity with high scientific value will be reduced for northern objects. Uranus' declination favors observations from the Northern Hemisphere until 2055, and Neptune will be favored from the Northern Hemisphere from 2027 for the next 90 years. Jupiter and Saturn experience cycles of better observability from either hemisphere on cycles of 10 and 30 years. These planets and their satellite systems often offer unique opportunities for discovery through time-critical observations. We argue that a 30-m class size telescope in the Northern Hemisphere with complementary scientific instrumentation to that on the ELT will secure the possibility of observing high-impact unpredictable phenomena in these systems.

Paper Structure

This paper contains 2 figures.

Figures (2)

  • Figure 1: (a) Declination of the outer planets and their satellite systems. The dashed gray line shows the latitude of Cerro Armarzones. (b) Number of nighttime hours for a target with declination 23.7$^{\circ}$ at elevations above 30$^\circ$ from equivalent latitudes at $\pm24.6^\circ$. Stronger differences can be found for targets with oppositions near the Northern Winter.
  • Figure :