A Search for Minor Constituents in the Atmosphere of Venus

Abstract

Observations of the spectrum of Venus have been carried out in an effort to identify possible minor atmospheric constituents. A search was made for water vapor near 8200Å, C₃O₂ below 3500Å, two unidentified absorptions near 4200Å, and the spectrum of the night sky was examined for the presence of emission lines. In all cases the results were negative, leading to the establishment of upper limits on constituent abundances.