A Multiwavelength Investigation of Comet 73P/SW3-C

Details A Multiwavelength Investigation of Comet 73P/SW3-C A Multiwavelength Investigation of Comet 73P/SW3-C

Jun 2005

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2005sptz.prop20001l&link_type=abstract

Spitzer Proposal ID #20001

Computer Science

Scientific paper

The nucleus of comet 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann-3 experienced a non-tidal breakup in late 1995. The largest fragment (73P/SW3-C) survived its subsequent perihelion passage in 2001 and will return in 2006, when it will pass very close to (0.08AU) Earth. This represents an outstanding opportunity to characterize a fresh cometary nucleus, and we propose an intensive investigation using both the Hubble and Spitzer telescopes. Employing the technique that our group has developed over the past decade to characterize 31 cometary nuclei, we will use HST/ACS to photometrically resolve the nucleus of 73P/SW3-C at optical wavelengths and SST/MIPS to do the same thing at thermal infrared wavelengths, thereby allowing us to determine both the size and albedo of this fragment. We also plan to measure the lightcurve of 73P/SW3-C to obtain detailed shape information, and use HST/NICMOS to probe the composition, in particular to search for evidence of icy material on the fresh surface. Previous observations indicate that most of the remaining mass of 73P/SW3 is in the form of numerous small fragments. A few of those may have been captured by the C fragment, and the determination of their orbits would allow the first, direct measurement of the mass of a cometary nucleus. Thus, we will also perform a deep search for any possible companions to the C-fragment.

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