Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy
Scientific paper
Nov 2004
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2004dps....36.3305a&link_type=abstract
American Astronomical Society, DPS meeting #36, #33.05; Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, Vol. 36, p.1144
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astronomy
Scientific paper
Cometary nuclei are the most primitive remnants of the early Solar System. Their physical and chemical attributes allow a glimpse into the conditions in which the icy bodies formed. Only in recent years has it been possible to routinely study parent volatiles in the infrared. A significant variation in composition among ten comets sampled to date has been demonstrated, and this forms the foundation of a new cometary taxonomy based on chemistry.
In spring 2004, we observed comet C/2002 T7 (LINEAR) using the facility echelle spectrometer (CSHELL) at the NASA Infrared Telescope Facility on Mauna Kea, Hawaii. CSHELL offers seeing-limited spatial resolution and sufficiently high spectral resolving power (R ˜ 2.5 x 104) to permit line-by-line intensities to be measured along its 30-arcsecond-long slit. Emission lines from multiple molecular species were targeted in the ˜ 3 to 5 micron infrared region, and our observations revealed an extremely rich chemistry in comet T7. Here we present production rates, mixing ratios, and rotational temperatures for CO spanning UT 3 - 9 May 2004, based on preliminary analysis of lines in the R and P branches of the v = 1-0 fundamental ro-vibrational band near 4.7 microns. Through comparison with abundances of other oxygen-bearing molecules (specifically H2CO and CH3OH), potential implications for the comet's volatile carbon-oxygen history will be discussed as well.
This research is supported by the NASA Planetary Astronomy Program, through RTOP 344-32-98 to M. A. DiSanti.
Anderson William Michael Jr.
Bonev Boncho P. .
Dello Russo Neil
DiSanti Michael A.
Gibb Erika Lynne
No associations
LandOfFree
Analysis of CO Emission in Comet C/2002 T7 (LINEAR) from Infrared Observations 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 Analysis of CO Emission in Comet C/2002 T7 (LINEAR) from Infrared Observations, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Analysis of CO Emission in Comet C/2002 T7 (LINEAR) from Infrared Observations will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1014182