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Observational Constraints on Surface Characteristics of Comet Nuclei
Observational Constraints on Surface Characteristics of Comet Nuclei Humberto Campins ([email protected] u) Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona Yanga Fernandez University of Hawai'i Abstract. Direct observations of the nuclear surfaces of comets have b een dicult; however a growing number of studies are overcoming observational challenges and yielding new information on cometary surfaces. In this review, we fo cus on recent determi- nations of the alb edos, re ectances, and thermal inertias of comet nuclei. There is not much diversity in the geometric alb edo of the comet nuclei observed so far (a range of 0.025 to 0.06). There is a greater diversity of alb edos among the Centaurs, and the sample of prop erly observed TNOs (2) is still to o small. Based on their alb edos and Tisserand invariants, Fernandez et al. (2001) estimate that ab out 5% of the near-Earth asteroids have a cometary origin, and place an upp er limit of 10%. The agreement between this estimate and two other indep endent metho ds provide the strongest constraint to date on the fraction of ob jects that comets contribute to the p opulation of near-Earth asteroids. There is a diversity of visible colors among comets, extinct comet candidates, Centaurs and TNOs. Comet nuclei are clearly not as red as the reddest Centaurs and TNOs. What Jewitt (2002) calls ultra-red matter seems to be absent from the surfaces of comet nuclei. Rotationally resolved observations of b oth colors and alb edos are needed to disentangle the e ects of rotational variability from other intrinsic qualities. -
KAREN J. MEECH February 7, 2019 Astronomer
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH – KAREN J. MEECH February 7, 2019 Astronomer Institute for Astronomy Tel: 1-808-956-6828 2680 Woodlawn Drive Fax: 1-808-956-4532 Honolulu, HI 96822-1839 [email protected] PROFESSIONAL PREPARATION Rice University Space Physics B.A. 1981 Massachusetts Institute of Tech. Planetary Astronomy Ph.D. 1987 APPOINTMENTS 2018 – present Graduate Chair 2000 – present Astronomer, Institute for Astronomy, University of Hawaii 1992-2000 Associate Astronomer, Institute for Astronomy, University of Hawaii 1987-1992 Assistant Astronomer, Institute for Astronomy, University of Hawaii 1982-1987 Graduate Research & Teaching Assistant, Massachusetts Inst. Tech. 1981-1982 Research Specialist, AAVSO and Massachusetts Institute of Technology AWARDS 2018 ARCs Scientist of the Year 2015 University of Hawai’i Regent’s Medal for Research Excellence 2013 Director’s Research Excellence Award 2011 NASA Group Achievement Award for the EPOXI Project Team 2011 NASA Group Achievement Award for EPOXI & Stardust-NExT Missions 2009 William Tylor Olcott Distinguished Service Award of the American Association of Variable Star Observers 2006-8 National Academy of Science/Kavli Foundation Fellow 2005 NASA Group Achievement Award for the Stardust Flight Team 1996 Asteroid 4367 named Meech 1994 American Astronomical Society / DPS Harold C. Urey Prize 1988 Annie Jump Cannon Award 1981 Heaps Physics Prize RESEARCH FIELD AND ACTIVITIES • Developed a Discovery mission concept to explore the origin of Earth’s water. • Co-Investigator on the Deep Impact, Stardust-NeXT and EPOXI missions, leading the Earth-based observing campaigns for all three. • Leads the UH Astrobiology Research interdisciplinary program, overseeing ~30 postdocs and coordinating the research with ~20 local faculty and international partners. -
The Comet's Tale, and Therefore the Object As a Whole Would the Section Director Nick James Highlighted Have a Low Surface Brightness
1 Diebold Schilling, Disaster in connection with two comets sighted in 1456, Lucerne Chronicle, 1513 (Wikimedia Commons) THE COMET’S TALE Comet Section – British Astronomical Association Journal – Number 38 2019 June britastro.org/comet Evolution of the comet C/2016 R2 (PANSTARRS) along a total of ten days on January 2018. Composition of pictures taken with a zoom lens from Teide Observatory in Canary Islands. J.J Chambó Bris 2 Table of Contents Contents Author Page 1 Director’s Welcome Nick James 3 Section Director 2 Melvyn Taylor’s Alex Pratt 6 Observations of Comet C/1995 01 (Hale-Bopp) 3 The Enigma of Neil Norman 9 Comet Encke 4 Setting up the David Swan 14 C*Hyperstar for Imaging Comets 5 Comet Software Owen Brazell 19 6 Pro-Am José Joaquín Chambó Bris 25 Astrophotography of Comets 7 Elizabeth Roemer: A Denis Buczynski 28 Consummate Comet Section Secretary Observer 8 Historical Cometary Amar A Sharma 37 Observations in India: Part 2 – Mughal Empire 16th and 17th Century 9 Dr Reginald Denis Buczynski 42 Waterfield and His Section Secretary Medals 10 Contacts 45 Picture Gallery Please note that copyright 46 of all images belongs with the Observer 3 1 From the Director – Nick James I hope you enjoy reading this issue of the We have had a couple of relatively bright Comet’s Tale. Many thanks to Janice but diffuse comets through the winter and McClean for editing this issue and to Denis there are plenty of images of Buczynski for soliciting contributions. 46P/Wirtanen and C/2018 Y1 (Iwamoto) Thanks also to the section committee for in our archive. -
Star Trek: VOYAGER® on DVD
Star Trek: VOYAGER® on DVD Prod. Season/ Box/ Prod. Season/ Box/ Title Title # Year Disc # Year Disc 11:59 217 5/1999 5/6 Elogium 118 2/1995 2/1 37's, The 120 2/1995 2/1 Emanations 109 1/1995 1/3 Alice 226 6/1999 6/2 Endgame, Part I 271 7/2001 828 7/7 Alliances 131 2/1996 2/4 Endgame, Part II 272 7/2001 Alter Ego 155 3/1997 3/4 Equinox, Part I 220 5/1999 5/7 Ashes to Ashes 238 6/2000 6/5 Equinox, Part II 221 6/1999 6/1 Author, Author 266 7/2001 7/5 Ex Post Facto 108 1/1995 1/2 Barge of the Dead 223 6/1999 6/1 Extreme Risk 197 5/1998 5/1 Basics, Part I 142 2/1996 2/7 Eye of the Needle 107 1/1995 1/2 Basics, Part II 146 3/1996 3/1 Faces 114 1/1995 1/4 Before and After 163 3/1997 3/6 Fair Haven 231 6/2000 6/3 Blink of an Eye 233 6/2000 6/3 Fair Trade 156 3/1997 3/4 Bliss 209 5/1999 5/4 False Profits 144 3/1996 3/2 Blood Fever 157 3/1997 3/4 Favorite Son 162 3/1997 3/5 Body and Soul 255 7/2000 7/2 Fight, The 208 5/1999 5/5 Bride of Chaotica! 207 5/1999 5/3 Flashback 145 3/1996 3/1 Caretaker, Part I 101 1/1995 Flesh and Blood, Part I 253 7/2000 721 1/1 827 7/3 Caretaker, Part II 102 1/1995 Flesh and Blood, Part II 254 7/2000 Cathexis 113 1/1995 1/4 Friendship One 267 7/2001 7/6 Child's Play 239 6/2000 6/5 Fury 241 6/2000 6/6 Chute, The 147 3/1996 3/1 Future's End, Part I 150 3/1996 3/2 Cloud, The 106 1/1995 1/2 Future's End, Part II 151 3/1996 3/3 Coda 158 3/1997 3/4 Gift, The 170 4/1997 4/1 Cold Fire 126 2/1995 2/3 Good Shepherd 240 6/2000 6/5 Collective 235 6/2000 6/4 Gravity 205 5/1999 5/4 Concerning Flight 179 4/1997 4/3 Haunting of Deck -
Disintegration of Active Asteroid P/2016 G1 (PANSTARRS) Olivier R
A&A 628, A48 (2019) https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201935868 Astronomy & © ESO 2019 Astrophysics Disintegration of active asteroid P/2016 G1 (PANSTARRS) Olivier R. Hainaut1, Jan T. Kleyna2, Karen J. Meech2, Mark Boslough3, Marco Micheli4,5, Richard Wainscoat2, Marielle Dela Cruz2, Jacqueline V. Keane2, Devendra K. Sahu6, and Bhuwan C. Bhatt6 1 European Southern Observatory, Karl-Schwarzschild-Strasse 2, 85748 Garching bei München, Germany e-mail: [email protected] 2 Institute for Astronomy, 2680 Woodlawn Drive, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA 3 University of NM – 1700 Lomas Blvd, NE. Suite 2200, Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001 USA 4 ESA SSA-NEO Coordination Centre, Largo Galileo Galilei, 1 00044 Frascati (RM), Italy 5 INAF – Osservatorio Astronomico di Roma, Via Frascati, 33, 00040 Monte Porzio Catone (RM), Italy 6 Indian Institute of Astrophysics, II Block, Koramangala, Bengaluru 560 034, India Received 10 May 2019 / Accepted 26 June 2019 ABSTRACT We report on the catastrophic disintegration of P/2016 G1 (PANSTARRS), an active asteroid, in April 2016. Deep images over three months show that the object is made up of a central concentration of fragments surrounded by an elongated coma, and presents previously unreported sharp arc-like and narrow linear features. The morphology and evolution of these characteristics independently point toward a brief event on 2016 March 6. The arc and the linear feature can be reproduced by large particles on a ring, moving at ∼2:5 m s−1. The expansion of the ring defines a cone with a ∼40◦ half-opening. We propose that the P/2016 G1 was hit by a small object which caused its (partial or total) disruption, and that the ring corresponds to large fragments ejected during the final stages of the crater formation. -
Investigation of Dust and Water Ice in Comet 9P/Tempel 1 from Spitzer Observations of the Deep Impact Event
A&A 542, A119 (2012) Astronomy DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361/201118718 & c ESO 2012 Astrophysics Investigation of dust and water ice in comet 9P/Tempel 1 from Spitzer observations of the Deep Impact event A. Gicquel1, D. Bockelée-Morvan1 ,V.V.Zakharov1,2,M.S.Kelley3, C. E. Woodward4, and D. H. Wooden5 1 LESIA, Observatoire de Paris, CNRS, UPMC, Université Paris-Diderot, 5 place Jules Janssen, 92195 Meudon, France e-mail: [adeline.gicquel;dominique.bockelee;vladimir.zakharov]@obspm.fr 2 Gordien Strato, France 3 Department of Astronomy, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742-2421, USA e-mail: [email protected] 4 Minnesota Institute for Astrophysics, University of Minnesota, 116 Church St SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA e-mail: [email protected] 5 NASA Ames Research Center, Space Science Division, USA e-mail: [email protected] Received 22 December 2011 / Accepted 9 February 2012 ABSTRACT Context. The Spitzer spacecraft monitored the Deep Impact event on 2005 July 4 providing unique infrared spectrophotometric data that enabled exploration of comet 9P/Tempel 1’s activity and coma properties prior to and after the collision of the impactor. Aims. The time series of spectra take with the Spitzer Infrared Spectrograph (IRS) show fluorescence emission of the H2O ν2 band at 6.4 μm superimposed on the dust thermal continuum. These data provide constraints on the properties of the dust ejecta cloud (dust size distribution, velocity, and mass), as well as on the water component (origin and mass). Our goal is to determine the dust-to-ice ratio of the material ejected from the impact site. -
Early Observations of the Interstellar Comet 2I/Borisov
geosciences Article Early Observations of the Interstellar Comet 2I/Borisov Chien-Hsiu Lee NSF’s National Optical-Infrared Astronomy Research Laboratory, Tucson, AZ 85719, USA; [email protected]; Tel.: +1-520-318-8368 Received: 26 November 2019; Accepted: 11 December 2019; Published: 17 December 2019 Abstract: 2I/Borisov is the second ever interstellar object (ISO). It is very different from the first ISO ’Oumuamua by showing cometary activities, and hence provides a unique opportunity to study comets that are formed around other stars. Here we present early imaging and spectroscopic follow-ups to study its properties, which reveal an (up to) 5.9 km comet with an extended coma and a short tail. Our spectroscopic data do not reveal any emission lines between 4000–9000 Angstrom; nevertheless, we are able to put an upper limit on the flux of the C2 emission line, suggesting modest cometary activities at early epochs. These properties are similar to comets in the solar system, and suggest that 2I/Borisov—while from another star—is not too different from its solar siblings. Keywords: comets: general; comets: individual (2I/Borisov); solar system: formation 1. Introduction 2I/Borisov was first seen by Gennady Borisov on 30 August 2019. As more observations were conducted in the next few days, there was growing evidence that this might be an interstellar object (ISO), especially its large orbital eccentricity. However, the first astrometric measurements do not have enough timespan and are not of same quality, hence the high eccentricity is yet to be confirmed. This had all changed by 11 September; where more than 100 astrometric measurements over 12 days, Ref [1] pinned down the orbit elements of 2I/Borisov, with an eccentricity of 3.15 ± 0.13, hence confirming the interstellar nature. -
Photometric Study of Two Near-Earth Asteroids in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey Moving Objects Catalog
University of North Dakota UND Scholarly Commons Theses and Dissertations Theses, Dissertations, and Senior Projects January 2020 Photometric Study Of Two Near-Earth Asteroids In The Sloan Digital Sky Survey Moving Objects Catalog Christopher James Miko Follow this and additional works at: https://commons.und.edu/theses Recommended Citation Miko, Christopher James, "Photometric Study Of Two Near-Earth Asteroids In The Sloan Digital Sky Survey Moving Objects Catalog" (2020). Theses and Dissertations. 3287. https://commons.und.edu/theses/3287 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Theses, Dissertations, and Senior Projects at UND Scholarly Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of UND Scholarly Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. PHOTOMETRIC STUDY OF TWO NEAR-EARTH ASTEROIDS IN THE SLOAN DIGITAL SKY SURVEY MOVING OBJECTS CATALOG by Christopher James Miko Bachelor of Science, Valparaiso University, 2013 A Thesis Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of the University of North Dakota in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science Grand Forks, North Dakota August 2020 Copyright 2020 Christopher J. Miko ii Christopher J. Miko Name: Degree: Master of Science This document, submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree from the University of North Dakota, has been read by the Faculty Advisory Committee under whom the work has been done and is hereby approved. ____________________________________ Dr. Ronald Fevig ____________________________________ Dr. Michael Gaffey ____________________________________ Dr. Wayne Barkhouse ____________________________________ Dr. Vishnu Reddy ____________________________________ ____________________________________ This document is being submitted by the appointed advisory committee as having met all the requirements of the School of Graduate Studies at the University of North Dakota and is hereby approved. -
The State of Anthro–Earth
The Rosette Gazette Volume 22,, IssueIssue 7 Newsletter of the Rose City Astronomers July, 2010 RCA JULY 19 GENERAL MEETING The State Of Anthro–Earth THE STATE OF ANTHRO-EARTH: A Visitor From Far, Far Away Reviews the Status of Our Planet In This Issue: A Talk (in Earth-English) By Richard Brenne 1….General Meeting Enrico Fermi famously wondered why we hadn't heard from any other planetary 2….Club Officers civilizations, and Richard Brenne, who we'd always suspected was probably from another planet, thinks he might know the answer. Carl Sagan thought it was likely …...Magazines because those on other planets blew themselves up with nuclear weapons, but Richard …...RCA Library thinks its more likely that burning fossil fuels changed the climates and collapsed the 3….Local Happenings civilizations of those we might otherwise have heard from. Only someone from another planet could discuss this most serious topic with Richard's trademark humor 4…. Telescope (in a previous life he was an award-winning screenwriter - on which planet we're not Transformation sure) and bemused detachment. 5….Special Interest Groups Richard Brenne teaches a NASA-sponsored Global Climate Change class, serves on 6….Star Party Scene the American Meteorological Society's Committee to Communicate Climate Change, has written and produced documentaries about climate change since 1992, and has 7.…Observers Corner produced and moderated 50 hours of panel discussions about climate change with 18...RCA Board Minutes many of the world's top climate change scientists. Richard writes for the blog "Climate Progress" and his forthcoming book is titled "Anthro-Earth", his new name 20...Calendars for his adopted planet. -
Initial Characterization of Interstellar Comet 2I/Borisov
Initial characterization of interstellar comet 2I/Borisov Piotr Guzik1*, Michał Drahus1*, Krzysztof Rusek2, Wacław Waniak1, Giacomo Cannizzaro3,4, Inés Pastor-Marazuela5,6 1 Astronomical Observatory, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland 2 AGH University of Science and Technology, Kraków, Poland 3 SRON, Netherlands Institute for Space Research, Utrecht, the Netherlands 4 Department of Astrophysics/IMAPP, Radboud University, Nijmegen, the Netherlands 5 Anton Pannekoek Institute for Astronomy, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands 6 ASTRON, Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy, Dwingeloo, the Netherlands * These authors contributed equally to this work; email: [email protected], [email protected] Interstellar comets penetrating through the Solar System had been anticipated for decades1,2. The discovery of asteroidal-looking ‘Oumuamua3,4 was thus a huge surprise and a puzzle. Furthermore, the physical properties of the ‘first scout’ turned out to be impossible to reconcile with Solar System objects4–6, challenging our view of interstellar minor bodies7,8. Here, we report the identification and early characterization of a new interstellar object, which has an evidently cometary appearance. The body was discovered by Gennady Borisov on 30 August 2019 UT and subsequently identified as hyperbolic by our data mining code in publicly available astrometric data. The initial orbital solution implies a very high hyperbolic excess speed of ~32 km s−1, consistent with ‘Oumuamua9 and theoretical predictions2,7. Images taken on 10 and 13 September 2019 UT with the William Herschel Telescope and Gemini North Telescope show an extended coma and a faint, broad tail. We measure a slightly reddish colour with a g′–r′ colour index of 0.66 ± 0.01 mag, compatible with Solar System comets. -
Gemini Observations of Active Asteroid 354P/LINEAR (2010 A2)
Gemini Observations of Active Asteroid 354P/LINEAR (2010 A2) Yoonyoung Kim, Masateru Ishiguro Seoul National University (Korea) Science & Evolution of Gemini Observatory 2018 Fisherman’s Wharf, San Francisco Contents • Overview • Active asteroids resulting from impacts • The case of 354P/LINEAR (2010 A2) • Concluding remark Overview “Small Solar System bodies are primitive, but...” Solar System Formation “Snow line” Credit: Univ. of Hawaii Primitive small bodies Kuiper Belt ~30-55 AU Oort Cloud ~104-105 AU Yeomans 2000 Primitive small bodies (easy to observe) are comets and asteroids Kuiper Belt ~30-55 AU Oort Cloud ~104-105 AU Yeomans 2000 but, primitive small bodies also evolved... by solar radiative heating by impacts NASA/JPL/Univ. of Maryland but, primitive small bodies also evolved... by solar radiative heating by impacts NASA/JPL/Univ. of Maryland Purpose of this study • We aim to figure out one of the major evolutionary processes in the Solar System (impacts) through observational studies of • Active asteroids resulting from impacts • The case of 354P/LINEAR (2010 A2) Comets Active Asteroids Active asteroids Dormant Comets Asteroids resulting from impacts : The case of 354P/LINEAR (2010 A2) Kim, Y., Ishiguro, M., et al. 2017, AJ Kim, Y., Ishiguro, M., & Lee, M. G. 2017, ApJL Background “Evidences of past impacts” Credit: D. Jewitt The case of (596) Scheila Ishiguro+2011 The case of 354P/2010 A2 Jewitt+2011 The case of 354P/2010 A2 The case of 354P/2010 A2 Previous modelings (Jewitt+10,13; Snodgrass+10; Hainaut+12; Agarwal+13; Kleyna+13) Jewitt+2013 Kleyna+2013 Observation 2010 Model Observation Agarwal+2013 Obs. -
The Comet's Tale
THE COMET’S TALE Journal of the Comet Section of the British Astronomical Association Number 33, 2014 January Not the Comet of the Century 2013 R1 (Lovejoy) imaged by Damian Peach on 2013 December 24 using 106mm F5. STL-11k. LRGB. L: 7x2mins. RGB: 1x2mins. Today’s images of bright binocular comets rival drawings of Great Comets of the nineteenth century. Rather predictably the expected comet of the century Contents failed to materialise, however several of the other comets mentioned in the last issue, together with the Comet Section contacts 2 additional surprise shown above, put on good From the Director 2 appearances. 2011 L4 (PanSTARRS), 2012 F6 From the Secretary 3 (Lemmon), 2012 S1 (ISON) and 2013 R1 (Lovejoy) all Tales from the past 5 th became brighter than 6 magnitude and 2P/Encke, 2012 RAS meeting report 6 K5 (LINEAR), 2012 L2 (LINEAR), 2012 T5 (Bressi), Comet Section meeting report 9 2012 V2 (LINEAR), 2012 X1 (LINEAR), and 2013 V3 SPA meeting - Rob McNaught 13 (Nevski) were all binocular objects. Whether 2014 will Professional tales 14 bring such riches remains to be seen, but three comets The Legacy of Comet Hunters 16 are predicted to come within binocular range and we Project Alcock update 21 can hope for some new discoveries. We should get Review of observations 23 some spectacular close-up images of 67P/Churyumov- Prospects for 2014 44 Gerasimenko from the Rosetta spacecraft. BAA COMET SECTION NEWSLETTER 2 THE COMET’S TALE Comet Section contacts Director: Jonathan Shanklin, 11 City Road, CAMBRIDGE. CB1 1DP England. Phone: (+44) (0)1223 571250 (H) or (+44) (0)1223 221482 (W) Fax: (+44) (0)1223 221279 (W) E-Mail: [email protected] or [email protected] WWW page : http://www.ast.cam.ac.uk/~jds/ Assistant Director (Observations): Guy Hurst, 16 Westminster Close, Kempshott Rise, BASINGSTOKE, Hampshire.