TRITONS DISTORTED ATMOSPHERE

A stellar-occultation light curve for Triton shows asymmetry that can be understood if Triton's middle atmosphere is distorted from spherica l symmetry. Although a globally oblate model can explain the data, the inferred atmospheric flattening is so large that it could be caused o nly by an unrealistic internal mass distribution or highly supersonic zonal winds, Cyclostrophic winds confined to a jet near Triton's north ern or southern limbs (or both) could also be responsible for the deta ils of the light curve, but such winds are required to be slightly sup ersonic. Hazes and clouds in the atmosphere are unlikely to have cause d the asymmetry in the fight curve.