Infrared Spectroscopy of Comet 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 3 using the Spitzer Space Telescope

Details Infrared Spectroscopy of Comet 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 3 using the Spitzer Space Telescope Infrared Spectroscopy of Comet 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 3 using the Spitzer Space Telescope

Sep 2006

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2006dps....38.0606s&link_type=abstract

American Astronomical Society, DPS meeting #38, #06.06; Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, Vol. 38, p.490

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astronomy

3

Scientific paper

We have used the Infrared Spectrograph of the Spitzer Space Telescope to observe the B and C components of Comet 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 3. Both components exhibit silicate band features that are stronger than those typically seen in Jupiter family comets, indicating (as did the Deep Impact of 9P/Tempel 1) that this family of objects was formed with a significant population of small grains, but repeated sublimation of ice due to solar heating has depleted the surface layers of these grains. Only through excavation (9P) and fragmentation (73P) are the spectral features of more pristine materials observable. While the spectra of the two components of 73P are overall very similar, some subtle differences can be seen: B exhibits a stronger broad feature between 27 and 32 microns indicative of metal sulfides, stronger features between 6 and 7 microns due to water vapor, and a weaker 10 micron band strength indicative of somewhat larger silicate particles. Both objects exhibit narrow spectral features due to Mg-rich crystalline silicates, although they comprise a smaller fraction of the total dust mass than was seen in C/1995 O1 Hale-Bopp. This work is based on observations made with the Spitzer Space Telescope, which is operated by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology under a contract with NASA. Support for this work was provided by NASA.

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