Physics
Scientific paper
Jul 1996
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1996hst..prop.6447m&link_type=abstract
HST Proposal ID #6447
Physics
Hst Proposal Id #6447 Solar System
Scientific paper
Three well-observed dynamically new comets will be between heliocentric distances, r = 20-28 AU during cycle 6 where it will be possible for the first time to detect their nuclei. These comets are part of a 10 year ground-based program to search for physical and chemical differences between the comets first entering the inner Solar System and those which have been thermally processed. Their gradual comae disappearance has been monitored from the ground, yet nucleus observations have been impossible through the extensive dust comae. The comet nucleus properties are not only essential for using thermal sublimation models to understand the light- curve behavior, but also extremely important to the models of the outer Solar System formation. Cycle 6 will be the last opportunity to obtain physical information on the nuclei in this unique database before they become forever too faint to be observed. The WFPC2 will be used to detect the nuclei to a limiting magnitude of m_R=28. Non-detections are improbable; however, the corresponding constraints {3.4-6.4 km} would be extremely strong, and equally important. Small nucleus sizes, combined with thermal sublimation models, will rule out the hypothesis that distant, unusually active comets must be large, rather that they must have a greater abundance of highly volatile species. The HST observations will be combined with the ground-based observations to make inferences relevant to our understanding of the early solar system.
No associations
LandOfFree
Distant Comet Nucleus Sizes 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 Distant Comet Nucleus Sizes, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Distant Comet Nucleus Sizes will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1117662