The nucleus of comet 55P/Tempel-Tuttle, the parent of the Leonid Meteors

Details The nucleus of comet 55P/Tempel-Tuttle, the parent of the Leonid Meteors The nucleus of comet 55P/Tempel-Tuttle, the parent of the Leonid Meteors

Dec 1997

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1997hst..prop.7428l&link_type=abstract

HST Proposal ID #7428

Physics

Hst Proposal Id #7428 Solar System

Scientific paper

This is the continuation of GO 6621 {PI: M. A'Hearn} which received long-term {2-year} status in cycle 6 to observe the periodic comet 55P/Tempel-Tuttle, the parent of the Leonid meteor stream, whose forthcoming return provides a very rare opportunity to study the nucleus of a P/Halley class comet {P = 33 yr, aphelion = 20 AU} and the relationship of cometary ejection processes to a major meteor stream. The comet comes to perihelion in cycle 7 with an unusually close approach to Earth 40 days before, on 17 January 1998. At the geocentric distance of 0.45 AU, the Planetary Camera will achieve a spatial resolution {2 pixels} of 30 km allowing light from the nucleus to be clearly distinguished from light due to the surrounding coma. Understanding the expected meteor storm in the Leonid shower requires knowledge of the comet's nuclear properties. We plan to measure the B, V, R, I magnitudes of the nucleus in order to derive its color, and we plan to study its rotational properties by measuring its projected cross sections as a function of time. Concurent thermal infrared observations {ISOCAM, ground-based infrared camera} will allow to derive its albedo and in turn its size with very minimal asumptions. The HST images will also enable us to study the circum-nuclear region, in particular, the relationship of the nuclear outgassing and the physical properties of the dust {e.g., its color} to the nuclear rotation. We expect to image possible dust structures and to possibly map the sources of dust on the nucleus.

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