A source of variable 22.2‐Mc/sec radiation has been detected with the large “Mills Cross” antenna of the Carnegie Institution of Washington. The source is present on nine records out of a possible 31 obtained during the first quarter of 1955. The appearance of the records of this source resembles that of terrestrial interference, but it lasts no longer than the time necessary for a celestial object to pass through the antenna pattern. The derived position in the sky corresponds to the position of Jupiter and exhibits the geocentric motion of Jupiter. There is no evident correlation between the times of appearance of this phenomenon and the rotational period of the planet Jupiter, or with the occurrence of solar activity. There is evidence that most of the radio energy is concentrated at frequencies lower than 38 Mc/sec.
Radio observations of Jupiter made in June 1954 and November 1, 1955, to March 13, 1956, are reported. Three aspects of the program are discussed:
(1) Correlation of observation with the rotation of Jupiter;
(2) Polarization of the radiation;
(3) Frequency characteristics.
During the period of observation, there were at least three centers of activity on the planet, rotating approximately with the non‐equatorial regions. No definite correlation of radio noise with visible features was noted. The white spot DE, noted as a possible correlation in 1951 data, was definitely not well correlated with radio noise occurrences in 1955–56. The most active radio region exhibited a rotational period of 9h55m33s, a value consistent with other determinations and also consistent with the suggested long‐term rotational period, system III. Most of the radio noise bursts were strongly circularly polarized. For the most active region, only bursts of right circular polarization were observed. The radio noise spectrum does not appear to be continuous over the observed set of frequencies. The hypothesis that the narrow angle of visibility is evidence for critical reflection by the ionosphere of Jupiter is not supported by the combined Carnegie and Australian observations.
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