Other
Scientific paper
Jan 2010
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2010aas...21544803k&link_type=abstract
American Astronomical Society, AAS Meeting #215, #448.03; Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, Vol. 42, p.454
Other
Scientific paper
The solar system's primitive bodies provide us with samples of the building blocks of our solar system, and help us ascertain the processes that were relevant in the evolution of our sun's protostellar disk. Specifically, the study of comets is beneficial to our understanding of dust formation and processing in the early solar nebula. Given the view of the TALPS model (Belton et al. 2007, Icarus, 187, 332) that ecliptic comet nucleus surfaces retain and reveal their primordial compositions, we focus on the dust properties of this one dynamical family in order to examine its origins. We present mid-infrared spectra of ecliptic comet comae observed with the Spitzer Space Telescope and Gemini+Michelle. Mid-infrared spectra and thermal emission models of ecliptic comet dust comae are diagnostic of important dust grain properties: composition, size, and structure. Broad emission features attributable to silicate dust are apparent in many mid-infrared spectra of ecliptic comets, but of varying strengths. Moreover, narrow spectral features attributable to forsterite (Mg-rich olivine) are seen in the comae of some ecliptic comets, but not others. Altogether, the comae of the ecliptic comet population are diverse, implying there may have been heliocentric and/or temporal variations in the dust composition of the outer-protostellar disk, 4.6 Gyr ago.
Campins Humberto
Harker David E.
Kelley Michael S.
Reach William T.
Spitzer Comet Dust Survey Team
No associations
LandOfFree
The Diversity of Dust in Ecliptic Comets does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.
If you have personal experience with The Diversity of Dust in Ecliptic Comets, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and The Diversity of Dust in Ecliptic Comets will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-969349