Multicolor images were obtained during the first three scheduled observing
periods (the initial testing period and first two general users cycles--the
5
cycle will begin in July 1995). The fact that nearly a jovian year had
elapsed since the Voyager encounters, and that the HST WFPC-1 is sensitive in
the 0.5-1.0 
m region where methane absorbs, allows altitudinal
discrimination and makes these data highly complementary to the the higher
resolution Voyager data
set. Combined with higher resolution WFPC-2 data, this time sequence will
produce information related to variability in vertical structure within the
atmosphere. Preliminary analysis of east-west translations in the equatorial
region derived from images at 889 nm (strong CH
absorption) and 718 nm
(continuum) indicates that equatorial winds decrease with height in a manner
similar to that of Saturn ( Barnet et al., 1992). WFPC-2 will
be utilized for observing phenomena associated with the July 16-22, 1994, impact
of Shoemaker-Levy 9 with Jupiter. These data, along with FOS, GHRS, and FOC
data, can be combined with groundbased infrared data to further define vertical
structure in the jovian atmosphere. Imaging goals for the HST Shoemaker-Levy 9
Campaign include: establishing a pre-impact baseline, searching for fireball
phenomena near the limb of the planet, observing impact sites as soon as
possible to detect seismic waves (time scale of a few hours), searching for
inertia-gravity waves (time scale of hours to days), monitoring of sites for
several days to determine local response to impacts, and observing the planet on
a longer timescale (including ultraviolet imaging) to detect stratospheric
circulation (implied by north-south dispersion of dust and ices formed at
impact sites). The data acquired during this campaign are scheduled to be
archived in the NASA Planetary Data Systems archive for use in planning and
interpreting the Galileo data.