Hydrogen cyanide in comet C/1996 B2 Hyakutake

Physics

Scientific paper

Rate now

  [ 0.00 ] – not rated yet Voters 0   Comments 0

Details

12

Planetology: Solar System Objects: Comets, Planetology: Comets And Small Bodies: Composition, Planetology: Comets And Small Bodies: Atmospheres-Composition And Chemistry

Scientific paper

Spectral emission from HCN in C/1996 B2 Hyakutake was detected on UT 1996 March 24.4 (rh = 1.06 AU, Δ = 0.106 AU), using the CSHELL infrared spectrometer at the NASA Infrared Telescope Facility. A Boltzmann analysis of eight ro-vibrational lines in the ν3 band returned a rotational temperature (83 +/- 9 K) for a region centered on the nucleus. The global HCN production rate was (4.50 +/- 0.81) × 1026 molecules s-1. The HCN abundance relative to water is then (0.18 +/- 0.04)%, based on direct measurements of H2O made on the same night with the same instrument and reduced with the same data processing algorithms. The measured spatial distribution for HCN is consistent with its release at the nucleus; no significant contribution from a distributed source is required within ~600 km of the nucleus. We use these data to obtain insights regarding the origin of HCN in this comet.

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

Hydrogen cyanide in comet C/1996 B2 Hyakutake 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 Hydrogen cyanide in comet C/1996 B2 Hyakutake, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Hydrogen cyanide in comet C/1996 B2 Hyakutake will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

     

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-950349

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