NEAR-IR EMISSIONS IN THE UPPER JOVIAN ATMOSPHERE AFTER SL-9 IMPACT - INDICATIONS OF POSSIBLE NORTHERN COUNTERPARTS

The evolution of the Jovian atmosphere as a result of the impact of SL -9 was monitored in the near-IR at the 3.5-m New Technology Telescope at ESO, La Silla, from July 22-31, 1994. At the beginning of the obser vational run the spectra around 3.5 mu m show enhanced H-3(+) emission s at -44 degrees and +-44 degrees latitude, which are distributed simi larly in longitude. Later, most of the H-3(+) emission is present in t he northern polar region while it has faded at -44 degrees. In the 2.1 mu m range all spectra obtained at -44 degrees lat. show a continuum associated to the impact sites on which in some cases the H-2 quadrupo le line is indicated. The spatial distribution of the H-2 emission in the northern hemisphere does not show a clear correlation to the impac t sites.