Lick Observatory, Mt.Hamilton, California		W. M. Keck Observatory, Hawaii

URANUS: CLOUDS IN 2004

URANUS: K' FEATURE Near infrared image of Uranus taken with AO on Keck II on 3, 4, 8, and 9 July 2004 at H (1.6 micron) and K' (2.2 micron). As in 2003, many cloud features are visible. The cloud near the polar collar in Uranus' southern (left) hemisphere has a very bright core, that is also visible at K' band (2.2 micron). This suggests that material is rising up to high altitudes (above 1 bar) in Uranus' atmosphere. (Hammel, H.B., I. de Pater, S. Gibbard, G.W. Lockwood, and K. Rages, 2004. New cloud acitivity on Uranus in 2004: First detection of a southern feature at 2.2 microns. Icarus Note, submitted) See Press Release DPS 2004