Ground-based visible and near-IR observations of Comet 9P/Tempel 1 during the Deep Impact encounter

Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy

Scientific paper

Rate now

  [ 0.00 ] – not rated yet Voters 0   Comments 0

Details

10

Scientific paper

We present the results of our visible and near-IR observations of Comet 9P/Tempel 1 during the Deep Impact encounter. The comet was observed before, during, and after impact from Kitt Peak National Observatory (J, H, K) and Observatorio Astronómico Nacional-San Pedro Mártir, Mexico (B, V, R, I). High time-resolution images in R, J, H, and K the night of impact with a 3.5 radius aperture revealed a rapid brightening which had multiple slopes and lasted for approximately 25 min before leveling off. The brightness decreased on subsequent nights and returned to near pre-impact levels by July 8 UT. The R J, R H, R K, J H, J K, and H K colors became bluer the night of impact. The R J, R H, and R K colors remained blue on the night after impact while the J H, J K, and H K colors returned to baseline levels. The observed color changes suggest the bluening was due to an increase in small grains relative to the ambient coma, an increase in ice relative to refractory dust in the coma, or a combination of the two. The ejecta were initially directed towards the southwest but had been driven southeast by solar radiation pressure by the second night after impact. The mean projected ejecta velocity was estimated at 0.20 0.23 km s-1 over the first 24 h after impact.

No associations

LandOfFree

Say what you really think

Search LandOfFree.com for scientists and scientific papers. Rate them and share your experience with other people.

Rating

Ground-based visible and near-IR observations of Comet 9P/Tempel 1 during the Deep Impact encounter 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 Ground-based visible and near-IR observations of Comet 9P/Tempel 1 during the Deep Impact encounter, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Ground-based visible and near-IR observations of Comet 9P/Tempel 1 during the Deep Impact encounter will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

     

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-923444

  Search
All data on this website is collected from public sources. Our data reflects the most accurate information available at the time of publication.