Measuring the physical properties of the nucleus of comet 8P/Tuttle

Details Measuring the physical properties of the nucleus of comet 8P/Tuttle Measuring the physical properties of the nucleus of comet 8P/Tuttle

May 2007

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2007sptz.prop40270g&link_type=abstract

Spitzer Proposal ID #40270

Physics

Scientific paper

Comet 8P/Tuttle is a returning nearly isotropic comet (NIC), i.e., an 'Oort cloud comet', with an outstanding apparition in cycle 4, passing within 0.25 AU of the Earth. We propose to observe it with MIPS (photometry at 24 and 70 micron) and IRS (spectroscopy in the 5-38 micron range), to measure the physical properties of its nucleus: size, shape, rotation period, thermal inertia and mineralogy. This will provide the most detailed view of a NIC nucleus since the spacecraft flyby of 1P/Halley in 1986. The return of 8P is a rare opportunity that Spitzer should not miss. The results should yield a comprehensive picture of this NIC that can be compared to the detailed data collected on ecliptic comets (ECs) during the past 3 decades. The differences and similarities between NICs and ECs should yield valuable insights into the origin and evolution of comets.

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