Han B., Owen T., Brahic A., Dumas C., Roddier F., Roddier C., Northcott M., Graves J. E., O'Connor D.

Ground-based Near-Infrared Adaptive-Optics Imaging of the Surface of Titan

We present preliminary results of imaging of the surface of Titan undertaken using the Canada-France-Hawaii 3.6 meter telescope at Mauna Kea Observatories utilizing the University of Hawaii Adaptive Optics System. Images were obtained in December 1994 and August 1995 in several filters between 1 and 2 microns. The wavelength coverage nicely complements the images obtained by Smith et al on the Hubble Space Telescope in 1994.

Although orbital coverage is incomplete, we appear to corroborate the existence of the bright feature seen near eastern elongation by Smith et al and may have observed a previously undetected feature near western elongation.

Development of the AO system is funded by NSF Grant AST-9020560.

Data reduction is funded by NASA Grant JPL-959217.

Titan

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