Mid-IR Gemini-N Observations Of Fragments B and C of Comet 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 3

Details Mid-IR Gemini-N Observations Of Fragments B and C of Comet 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 3 Mid-IR Gemini-N Observations Of Fragments B and C of Comet 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 3

Sep 2006

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2006dps....38.1204h&link_type=abstract

American Astronomical Society, DPS meeting #38, #12.04; Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, Vol. 38, p.503

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astronomy

5

Scientific paper

We present mid-infrared spectrophotometric observations of fragments B and C of comet 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 3 (73P-B, 73P-C respectively) obtained 29 - 30 April 2006 UT at Gemini-N (+Michelle). We acquired 11.7 and 18.5 μm images, and 10 μm spectra of both fragments, as well as 20 μm spectra of 73P-B. The observations of 73P-B occurred several days after a significant outburst event (around 2 April 2006 UT), and outburst material extends away from the nucleus at least 1414 km at PA = 205° (East of North). The flux density of 73P-B (0".6 x 1".0 box aperture centered on nucleus) was 681 mJy at 11.7 μm and 853 mJy at 18.5 μm, while that of 73P-C was 3254 mJy at 11.7 μm and 1847 mJy at 18.5 μm. The coma of 73P-C is more condensed than that of 73P-B, with a dust tail extending at least 943 km at PA ˜ 225°. Spectra were obtained by placing a 0".6 wide aperture centered on the peak coma surface brightness, with a PA aligned along the axis of greatest coma extent, and were extracted in 1".0 segments in the spatial direction. Spectra were analysized using the Harker et al. (2002, ApJ 580, 579) thermal gain model to deduce dust characteristics. In 73P-B, we detect crystalline olivine in the outburst material. The mass of submicron sized crystalline olivine grains reaches a peak of 21 kg at a distance of 305 km from the nucleus. 73P-C also shows emission from crystalline olivine throughout its coma with grains generally more porous than those inferred for 73P-B. We will compare the dust properties of 73P with dust ejected from comet 9P/Tempel 1 during Deep Impact. This work supported in part by NASA Planetary Astronomy Grant RTOP 344-32-21-04.

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