The Isotopic Oxygen Nightglow as Viewed from Mauna Kea

• Published in: Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) 1997-09, Vol.277 (5331), p.1485-1488
• Main Authors: Slanger, T. G., Huestis, D. L., Osterbrock, D. E., Fulbright, J. P.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Absorption spectra; Airglow; Atmosphere; Atmospherics; Crystalline rocks; Data lines; Earth sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Emission spectra; Exact sciences and technology; Igneous and metamorphic rocks petrology, volcanic processes, magmas; Isotope geochemistry; Isotope geochemistry. Geochronology; Isotopes; Line spectra; Oxygen; Spectral bands; Spectral resolution; Telescopes; Telluric lines; Terrestrial radiation
• ISSN: 0036-8075; 1095-9203
• DOI: 10.1126/science.277.5331.1485

Optical spectra of the terrestrial nightglow in the 520- to 900-nanometer region, as measured by the W. M. Keck telescope on Mauna Kea in Hawaii and the associated high-resolution echelle spectrograph, showed many bands belonging to the important O$_2$(b-X) Atmospheric Band emission system. Previous ground-based measurements have shown only a single band, from the lowest vibrational level of the emitting state. Of particular interest is the fact that at the 762-nanometer position of the b-X 0-0 band, where earlier studies have shown only absorption features, these results showed both absorption at the $^{16}$O$^{16}$O line positions and well-resolved emission at the positions of many of the $^{18}$O$^{16}$O and $^{17}$O$^{16}$O lines. These findings show that substantial advances can be made in understanding atmospheric emission phenomena by the use of astronomical tools.