Theageofcomets 2 Copy.Key

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Theageofcomets 2 Copy.Key The Age of Comets What comets tell us about the the early solar system ! Carsten Dominik University of Amsterdam Radboud University Nijmegen The Rosetta mission to comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko 2004 2014 Image credits: ESA/ESO Bernard 68: ready for collapse Image credit: ESO Collapse and Rotation Real disks What are comets? • Small solar system body • Very hard to detect when far from Sun • Develop coma and tails when close to Sun Comet outgassing Image: ESA Comet coma Image credit: Vicent Peris and José Luis Lamadrid Comet tails Comet tails Gas small grains larger grains Key properties of comets • Size • Strength • Composition • Orbital properties Temple 1 7.6 km Size Hartley 2.25 km Wild 2 5.5 km Planet Formation Agglomeration Accretion ~1 µm ~1 km ~10000 km Preplanetary Planetesimals Planets dust Strength Comet SL9 1994 Tidal breakup Breakup to equal blocks requires very weak material Composition Mumma & Charnley 2011 • Dust (Silicates and Carbonaceous) • Ices H2O, CO, CO2, HCN, CH3CN, CS….. Amorphous Olivine Amorphous Pyroxene Crystalline Forsterite Crystalline Enstatite Silica PAH Comparison comet Hale-Bopp versus disk HD 100546 Malfait et al 1998 Deuterium in Comets Comet orbits Kay Gibson, Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp Where comets come from, part I Öpik 1932, Oort 1950 Creating the Oort Cloud Circular orbits Far away Eccentric,! reaching to planets Comet orbits Kay Gibson, Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp Pluto (1930) ClydeClyde TombaughTombaugh Orbit of Pluto 1992 QB1 ... en Kuipergordel objecten Orbit of Jupiter Orbit of Neptune 29-09-2009 LWSK 29 Origin of comet reservoirs Brett Gladmann Science 2005 Distribution of orbital elements Pluto’s resonant capture Pluto’s resonant capture Pluto’s resonant capture a Neptune P t=0 time e today time 1:1 3:2 2:1 i time The age of comets (Wag the dog) Credit: Sky & Telescope The End • Comets are first class witnesses of the formation and early evolution of the solar system • Together with observations of planets and of protoplanetary disks, they can indeed be a Rosetta Stone for understanding our origins.
Recommended publications
  • The Blurring Distinction Between Asteroids and Comets
    Answers Research Journal 8 (2015):203–208. www.answersingenesis.org/arj/v8/asteroids-and-comets.pdf The Blurring Distinction between Asteroids and Comets Danny R. Faulkner, Answers in Genesis, PO Box 510, Hebron, Kentucky, 41048. Abstract Asteroids and comets long had been viewed as distinct objects with regards to orbits and composition. However, discoveries made in recent years have blurred those distinctions. Whether there is a continuum on which our older conception of asteroids and comets are extremes or if there still is a gap between them is not entirely clear yet. Some of the newer views of comets and asteroids may challenge the evolutionary theory of the solar system. Additionally, the new information may challenge the idea that the solar system is billions of years old. For readers not versed in nomenclature of small solar system bodies, I discuss that in the appendix. Keywords: small solar system objects, comets, asteroids (minor planets) Introduction the sun, and their orbits frequently are inclined The differences between asteroids and comets considerably to the orbits of the planets. Because of At one time, we thought of asteroids and comets as their highly elliptical orbits, most comets alternately being two very different groups of objects. Comets and are very close to the sun when near perihelion and asteroids certainly looked different. Comets can be very far from the sun when near aphelion. Comets visible to the naked eye, and have been known since spend most of the time near aphelion far from the ancient times. They have a hazy, fuzzy appearance. sun, so that their ices remain frozen.
    [Show full text]
  • 1. Some of the Definitions of the Different Types of Objects in the Solar
    1. Some of the definitions of the different types of objects in has the greatest orbital inclination (orbit at the the solar system overlap. Which one of the greatest angle to that of Earth)? following pairs does not overlap? That is, if an A) Mercury object can be described by one of the labels, it B) Mars cannot be described by the other. C) Jupiter A) dwarf planet and asteroid D) Pluto B) dwarf planet and Kuiper belt object C) satellite and Kuiper belt object D) meteoroid and planet 10. Of the following objects in the solar system, which one has the greatest orbital eccentricity and therefore the most elliptical orbit? 2. Which one of the following is a small solar system body? A) Mercury A) Rhea, a moon of Saturn B) Mars B) Pluto C) Earth C) Ceres (an asteroid) D) Pluto D) Mathilde (an asteroid) 11. What is the largest moon of the dwarf planet Pluto 3. Which of the following objects was discovered in the called? twentieth century? A) Chiron A) Pluto B) Callisto B) Uranus C) Charon C) Neptune D) Triton D) Ceres 12. If you were standing on Pluto, how often would you see 4. Pluto was discovered in the satellite Charon rise above the horizon each A) 1930. day? B) 1846. A) once each 6-hour day as Pluto rotates on its axis C) 1609. B) twice each 6-hour day because Charon is in a retrograde D) 1781. orbit C) once every 2 days because Charon orbits in the same direction Pluto rotates but more slowly 5.
    [Show full text]
  • An Early Warning System for Asteroid Impact
    An Early Warning System for Asteroid Impact John L. Tonry(1) ABSTRACT Earth is bombarded by meteors, occasionally by one large enough to cause a significant explosion and possible loss of life. It is not possible to detect all hazardous asteroids, and the efforts to detect them years before they strike are only advancing slowly. Similarly, ideas for mitigation of the danger from an impact by moving the asteroid are in their infancy. Although the odds of a deadly asteroid strike in the next century are low, the most likely impact is by a relatively small asteroid, and we suggest that the best mitigation strategy in the near term is simply to move people out of the way. With enough warning, a small asteroid impact should not cause loss of life, and even portable property might be preserved. We describe an \early warning" system that could provide a week's notice of most sizeable asteroids or comets on track to hit the Earth. This may be all the mitigation needed or desired for small asteroids, and it can be implemented immediately for relatively low cost. This system, dubbed \Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System" (AT- LAS), comprises two observatories separated by about 100 km that simulta- neously scan the visible sky twice a night. Software automatically registers a comparison with the unchanging sky and identifies everything which has moved or changed. Communications between the observatories lock down the orbits of anything approaching the Earth, within one night if its arrival is less than a week. The sensitivity of the system permits detection of 140 m asteroids (100 Mton impact energy) three weeks before impact, and 50 m asteroids a week be- fore arrival.
    [Show full text]
  • Solar System in My Room Man
    6 + 2055 WARNING: CHOKING HAZARD - Small parts/small ball(s). Not for children under 3 years. A word about Pluto... Since it was discovered in 1930, Pluto has been considered the ninth planet of our solar system. In 2006, at a large gathering of astronomers from around the world, it was agreed that objects in our solar system should be divided into three main categories: planets, dwarf planets, and small solar system bodies. A planet orbits only the Sun and nothing else; it is massive enough that its gravity makes it spherical; and its gravity is strong enough to keep the path of its orbit clear of other objects. There are officially eight planets in our solar system. A dwarf planet also orbits the Sun and is spherical, but its gravity is not strong enough to clear its orbital path of other objects. There are officially at least three dwarf planets in our solar system. A small solar system body is not massive enough to have gravity that can make it spherical, so its shape is irregular. Asteroids, comets and moons are in this category. There are many small solar system bodies. Therefore, with these new definitions of objects in our solar system, Pluto is no longer considered a planet. It is officially a dwarf planet (along with two others, Ceres and Eris). Ceiling Installing Batteries Mounting Plate Tool required - Small Phillips-head screwdriver 1. Use a Phillips-head screwdriver to remove the battery door. On/Off 2. Insert 3 “AA” batteries. Make sure the “+” and “-” ends are inserted correctly, as indicated in the battery compartment.
    [Show full text]
  • The Castalia Mission to Main Belt Comet 133P/Elst-Pizarro C
    The Castalia mission to Main Belt Comet 133P/Elst-Pizarro C. Snodgrass, G.H. Jones, H. Boehnhardt, A. Gibbings, M. Homeister, N. Andre, P. Beck, M.S. Bentley, I. Bertini, N. Bowles, et al. To cite this version: C. Snodgrass, G.H. Jones, H. Boehnhardt, A. Gibbings, M. Homeister, et al.. The Castalia mission to Main Belt Comet 133P/Elst-Pizarro. Advances in Space Research, Elsevier, 2018, 62 (8), pp.1947- 1976. 10.1016/j.asr.2017.09.011. hal-02350051 HAL Id: hal-02350051 https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-02350051 Submitted on 28 Aug 2020 HAL is a multi-disciplinary open access L’archive ouverte pluridisciplinaire HAL, est archive for the deposit and dissemination of sci- destinée au dépôt et à la diffusion de documents entific research documents, whether they are pub- scientifiques de niveau recherche, publiés ou non, lished or not. The documents may come from émanant des établissements d’enseignement et de teaching and research institutions in France or recherche français ou étrangers, des laboratoires abroad, or from public or private research centers. publics ou privés. Distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution| 4.0 International License Available online at www.sciencedirect.com ScienceDirect Advances in Space Research 62 (2018) 1947–1976 www.elsevier.com/locate/asr The Castalia mission to Main Belt Comet 133P/Elst-Pizarro C. Snodgrass a,⇑, G.H. Jones b, H. Boehnhardt c, A. Gibbings d, M. Homeister d, N. Andre e, P. Beck f, M.S. Bentley g, I. Bertini h, N. Bowles i, M.T. Capria j, C. Carr k, M.
    [Show full text]
  • On the Irrelevance of Being a PLUTO! Size Scale of Stars and Planets
    On the irrelevance of being a PLUTO! Mayank Vahia DAA, TIFR Irrelevance of being Pluto 1 Size Scale of Stars and Planets Irrelevance of being Pluto 2 1 1 AU 700 Dsun Irrelevance of being Pluto 3 16 Dsun Irrelevance of being Pluto 4 2 Solar System 109 DEarth Irrelevance of being Pluto 5 11 DEarth Venus Irrelevance of being Pluto 6 3 Irrelevance of being Pluto 7 Solar System visible to unaided eye Irrelevance of being Pluto 8 4 Solar System at the beginning of 20 th Century Irrelevance of being Pluto 9 Solar System of my text book (30 years ago) Irrelevance of being Pluto 10 5 Asteroid Belt (Discovered in 1977) Irrelevance of being Pluto 11 The ‘Planet’ Pluto • Pluto is a 14 th magnitude object. • It is NOT visible to naked eye (neither are Uranus and Neptune). • It was discovered by American astronomer Clyde Tombaugh in 1930. Irrelevance of being Pluto 12 6 Prediction of Pluto • Percival Lowell and William H. Pickering are credited with the theoretical work on Pluto’s orbit done in 1909 based on data of Neptune’s orbital changes. • Venkatesh Ketakar had predicted it in May 1911 issue of Bulletin of the Astronomical Society of France. • He modelled his computations after those of Pierre-Simon Laplace who had analysed the motions of the satellites of Jupiter. • His location was within 1 o of its correct location. • He had predicted ts orbital period was 242.28 (248) years and a distance of 38.95 (39.53) A.U. • He had also predicted another planet at 59.573 A.U.
    [Show full text]
  • Stellar Occultations by Transneptunian Objects: from Predictions to Observations and Prospects for the Future
    STELLAR OCCULTATIONS BY TRANSNEPTUNIAN OBJECTS: FROM PREDICTIONS TO OBSERVATIONS AND PROSPECTS FOR THE FUTURE. J. L. Ortiz1, B. Sicardy2, J. I. B. Camargo3,4, P. Santos-Sanz1, F. Braga-Ribas5,3,4 (1) Instituto de Astrofisica de Andalucia-CSIC, Glorieta de la Astronomia sn, 18008 Granada, Spain (2) LESIA, Observatoire de Paris, Université PSL, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, Univ. Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, 5 place Jules Janssen, 92195 Meudon, France (3) Observatório Nacional / MCTIC, Rua General José Cristino 77, 20921-400, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (4) LIneA, Rua General José Cristino 77, 20921-400, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (5) Federal University of Technology - Paraná (UTFPR/DAFIS), Av. Sete de Setembro, 3165, CEP 80230-901 - Curitiba - PR - Brazil ABSTRACT In terms of scientific output, the best way to study solar system bodies is sending spacecraft to make in-situ measurements or to observe at close distance. Probably, the second best means to learn about important physical properties of solar system objects is through stellar occultations. By combining occultation observations from several sites, size and shape can be derived with kilometric accuracy. Also, atmospheric properties can be derived if the body has an atmosphere. Furthermore, the technique can detect rings and even satellites (although rarely) around the main body. Except for the very special cases of Pluto and Charon, stellar occultations by Transneptunian Objects (TNOs) had never been observed until October 2009. This was because the ephemeris of the TNOs have much larger uncertainties than their angular diameters (typically of the order of ~10 milliarcsecond) and also because stellar catalogs were not accurate to the milliarcsecond level.
    [Show full text]
  • Small Spacecraft in Small Solar System Body Applications
    Small Spacecraft in Small Solar System Body Applications Jan Thimo Grundmann Jan-Gerd Meß DLR Institute of Space Systems DLR Institute of Space Systems Robert-Hooke-Strasse 7 Robert-Hooke-Strasse 7 28359 Bremen, 28359 Bremen, Germany Germany +49-421-24420-1107 +49-421-24420-1206 [email protected] [email protected] Jens Biele Patric Seefeldt DLR Space Operations and Astronaut DLR Institute of Space Systems Training – MUSC Robert-Hooke-Strasse 7 51147 Cologne, 28359 Bremen, Germany Germany +49-2203-601-4563 +49-421-24420-1609 [email protected] [email protected] Bernd Dachwald Peter Spietz Faculty of Aerospace Engineering DLR Institute of Space Systems FH Aachen Univ. of Applied Sciences Robert-Hooke-Strasse 7 Hohenstaufenallee 6 28359 Bremen, 52064 Aachen, Germany Germany +49-241-6009-52343 / -52854 +49-421-24420-1104 [email protected] [email protected] Christian D. Grimm Tom Spröwitz DLR Institute of Space Systems DLR Institute of Space Systems Robert-Hooke-Strasse 7 Robert-Hooke-Strasse 7 28359 Bremen, 28359 Bremen, Germany Germany +49-421-24420-1266 +49-421-24420-1237 [email protected] [email protected] Caroline Lange Stephan Ulamec DLR Institute of Space Systems DLR Space Operations and Astronaut Robert-Hooke-Strasse 7 Training – MUSC 28359 Bremen, 51147 Cologne, Germany Germany +49-421-24420-1159 +49-2203-601-4567 [email protected] [email protected] Abstract— In the wake of the successful PHILAE landing on environment has led to new methods which transcend comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko and the launch of the traditional evenly-paced and sequential development.
    [Show full text]
  • Weekly Challenge Three – SPACE
    Weekly Challenge Three – SPACE SPACE – what a HUGE topic! Have a look at the famous photo on the right. The "Pale Blue Dot" photo was taken by Voyager 1 thirty years ago. Can you guess what that pale blue dot is? Yes, it’s Planet Earth, taken from a distance of about 4 billion miles away. It shows Earth as a single, bright blue dot in the vastness of space, caught within a ray of sunlight. This week you will be learning about our solar system and space. Activity 1 – Research space and our solar system. Make up a quiz for someone in your household. You could include questions such as ‘How many moons does Jupiter have? Remember to use question marks at the end of your questions and full stops at the end of statements (the answers). Use the activity 1 sheets to review the skills for today’s activities. Remember to give planets capital letters because they are proper nouns. Activity 2 – Read about astronauts who have travelled into space using the profiles or research online. Remember your internet safety - check any websites are reliable and ask an adult if there is anything you are unsure about. Make notes about the astronaut’s life. Act out an interview with your chosen astronaut. You could use a family member or puppet to interview you as the astronaut. Then write a news report about their life or an exciting event in it. Use features of a news report from the activity sheets. Activity 3 – Learn the order of the planets in our solar system.
    [Show full text]
  • The Dynamics of Ringed Small Bodies
    THE DYNAMICS OF RINGED SMALL BODIES A Thesis Submitted by Jeremy R. Wood For the Award of Doctor of Philosophy 2018 Abstract In 2013, the startling discovery of a pair of rings around the Centaur 10199 Chariklo opened up a new subfield of astronomy - the study of ringed small bodies. Since that discovery, a ring has been discovered around the dwarf planet 136108 Haumea, and a re-examination of star occultation data for the Centaur 2060 Chiron showed it could have a ring structure of its own. The reason why the discovery of rings around Chariklo or Chiron is rather shocking is because Centaurs frequently suffer close encounters with the giant planets in the Centaur region, and these close encounters can not only fatally destroy any rings around a Centaur but can also destroy the small body itself. In this research, we determine the likelihood that any rings around Chariklo or Chiron could have formed before the body entered the Centaur region and survived up to the present day by avoiding ring-destroying close encounters with the giant planets. And in accordance with that, develop and then improve a scale to measure the severity of a close encounter between a ringed small body and a planet. We determine the severity of a close encounter by finding the minimum dis- tance obtained between the small body and the planet during the encounter, dmin, and comparing it to the critical distances of the Roche limit, tidal dis- ruption distance, the Hill radius and \ring limit". The values of these critical distances comprise our close encounter severity scale.
    [Show full text]
  • Asteroids DOI: 10.17794/Rgn.2016.1.5
    The Mining-Geology-Petroleum Engineering Bulletin UDC: 523.6 Asteroids DOI: 10.17794/rgn.2016.1.5 Review scientific paper Željko Andreić1; 1University of Zagreb, Faculty of Mining, Geology and Petroleum Engineering, Pierottijeva 6, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia, full professor Abstract Asteroids are the largest minor bodies in the Solar System. Nowadays they are in the research focus due to several facts about them: first, a subclass of asteroids can collide with Earth, and consequences of such a collision are dramatic. Second, they are now seen as source of materials that are becoming scarce on Earth, and they will be needed in future space constructions anyway. Third, they are holding clues about the origin and evolution of the Solar System. In this article, a short overview of current knowledge about asteroids is presented. Last, but not least, as several Croatian scientists were recently honored by naming an asteroid after them, a short overview of the naming process is given. Keywords Solar System, asteroids, mining the asteroids 1. Introduction Even today, some textbooks describe the Solar System as a quiet, highly ordered structure. The Sun is in the center and planets revolve around it on neat elliptical orbits that are assumed to be the same since the time of creation of the Solar System. The space in between (the interplanetary space) is mostly empty, permeated by a very rarefied gas called solar wind that is peppered with a few grains of dust. Asteroids may be revealed as smaller bodies contained in the so-called asteroidal belt between Mars and Jupiter. And, beyond the last planet, Pluto, there is just cold, empty, interstellar space.
    [Show full text]
  • 1455189355674.Pdf
    THE STORYTeller’S THESAURUS FANTASY, HISTORY, AND HORROR JAMES M. WARD AND ANNE K. BROWN Cover by: Peter Bradley LEGAL PAGE: Every effort has been made not to make use of proprietary or copyrighted materi- al. Any mention of actual commercial products in this book does not constitute an endorsement. www.trolllord.com www.chenaultandgraypublishing.com Email:[email protected] Printed in U.S.A © 2013 Chenault & Gray Publishing, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Storyteller’s Thesaurus Trademark of Cheanult & Gray Publishing. All Rights Reserved. Chenault & Gray Publishing, Troll Lord Games logos are Trademark of Chenault & Gray Publishing. All Rights Reserved. TABLE OF CONTENTS THE STORYTeller’S THESAURUS 1 FANTASY, HISTORY, AND HORROR 1 JAMES M. WARD AND ANNE K. BROWN 1 INTRODUCTION 8 WHAT MAKES THIS BOOK DIFFERENT 8 THE STORYTeller’s RESPONSIBILITY: RESEARCH 9 WHAT THIS BOOK DOES NOT CONTAIN 9 A WHISPER OF ENCOURAGEMENT 10 CHAPTER 1: CHARACTER BUILDING 11 GENDER 11 AGE 11 PHYSICAL AttRIBUTES 11 SIZE AND BODY TYPE 11 FACIAL FEATURES 12 HAIR 13 SPECIES 13 PERSONALITY 14 PHOBIAS 15 OCCUPATIONS 17 ADVENTURERS 17 CIVILIANS 18 ORGANIZATIONS 21 CHAPTER 2: CLOTHING 22 STYLES OF DRESS 22 CLOTHING PIECES 22 CLOTHING CONSTRUCTION 24 CHAPTER 3: ARCHITECTURE AND PROPERTY 25 ARCHITECTURAL STYLES AND ELEMENTS 25 BUILDING MATERIALS 26 PROPERTY TYPES 26 SPECIALTY ANATOMY 29 CHAPTER 4: FURNISHINGS 30 CHAPTER 5: EQUIPMENT AND TOOLS 31 ADVENTurer’S GEAR 31 GENERAL EQUIPMENT AND TOOLS 31 2 THE STORYTeller’s Thesaurus KITCHEN EQUIPMENT 35 LINENS 36 MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
    [Show full text]