Submillimeter Molecular Observations Of The Split Ecliptic Comet 73p/schwassman-wachmann 3

Details Submillimeter Molecular Observations Of The Split Ecliptic Comet 73p/schwassman-wachmann 3 Submillimeter Molecular Observations Of The Split Ecliptic Comet 73p/schwassman-wachmann 3

Sep 2006

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2006dps....38.0307v&link_type=abstract

American Astronomical Society, DPS meeting #38, #03.07; Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, Vol. 38, p.485

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astronomy

1

Scientific paper

We performed a high-resolution spectroscopic chemical survey of molecular species (HCN, HNC, CH3OH, CO, H2CO, CS) and isotopic ratios (H13CN) of two fragments of the split ecliptic comet 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 3 (SW3) from the Heinrich Hertz Submillimeter Telescope (HHSMT). The unique resolving power of the Chirp Transform Spectrometer (λ/Δλ 8 million) at HHSMT is of great advantage for studies of emission line shapes, and useful for inferring the outgassing geometry and the evolution of jets. During our observing period (9-19 May 2006), component B underwent an outburst, increasing its gas activity three-fold and revealing unique line shapes. Component C showed stable activity. Results obtained for the two fragments will be presented.
The freshly exposed ice layers resulting from the recent (and ongoing) fragmentation of SW3 likely revealed its interior composition, in particular component B. If thermal processing is an important factor affecting the apparent chemistry of Jupiter Family Comets (JFC), fragment C and B should show different taxonomy. We will discuss the level of thermal processing of ices in both fragments, and examine whether SW3 belongs to the "typical" chemical group of Oort Cloud (OC) or JFC comets. These results will test the hypothesis that volatiles of some JFC and OC comets might have originated in a common region of the protoplanetary disk.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Submillimeter Molecular Observations Of The Split Ecliptic Comet 73p/schwassman-wachmann 3 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 Submillimeter Molecular Observations Of The Split Ecliptic Comet 73p/schwassman-wachmann 3, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Submillimeter Molecular Observations Of The Split Ecliptic Comet 73p/schwassman-wachmann 3 will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-998706