The Comet's Tale
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Load more
Recommended publications
-
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. -
SPECIAL Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 Collides with Jupiter
SL-9/JUPITER ENCOUNTER - SPECIAL Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 Collides with Jupiter THE CONTINUATION OF A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE R.M. WEST, ESO-Garching After the Storm Six Hectic Days in July eration during the first nights and, as in other places, an extremely rich data The recent demise of comet Shoe ESO was but one of many profes material was secured. It quickly became maker-Levy 9, for simplicity often re sional observatories where observations evident that infrared observations, es ferred to as "SL-9", was indeed spectac had been planned long before the critical pecially imaging with the far-IR instru ular. The dramatic collision of its many period of the "SL-9" event, July 16-22, ment TIMMI at the 3.6-metre telescope, fragments with the giant planet Jupiter 1994. It is now clear that practically all were perfectly feasible also during day during six hectic days in July 1994 will major observatories in the world were in time, and in the end more than 120,000 pass into the annals of astronomy as volved in some way, via their telescopes, images were obtained with this facility. one of the most incredible events ever their scientists or both. The only excep The programmes at most of the other predicted and witnessed by members of tions may have been a few observing La Silla telescopes were also successful, this profession. And never before has a sites at the northernmost latitudes where and many more Gigabytes of data were remote astronomical event been so ac the bright summer nights and the very recorded with them. -
On the Origin and Evolution of the Material in 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko
On the Origin and Evolution of the Material in 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko Martin Rubin, Cécile Engrand, Colin Snodgrass, Paul Weissman, Kathrin Altwegg, Henner Busemann, Alessandro Morbidelli, Michael Mumma To cite this version: Martin Rubin, Cécile Engrand, Colin Snodgrass, Paul Weissman, Kathrin Altwegg, et al.. On the Origin and Evolution of the Material in 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. Space Sci.Rev., 2020, 216 (5), pp.102. 10.1007/s11214-020-00718-2. hal-02911974 HAL Id: hal-02911974 https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-02911974 Submitted on 9 Dec 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. Space Sci Rev (2020) 216:102 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11214-020-00718-2 On the Origin and Evolution of the Material in 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko Martin Rubin1 · Cécile Engrand2 · Colin Snodgrass3 · Paul Weissman4 · Kathrin Altwegg1 · Henner Busemann5 · Alessandro Morbidelli6 · Michael Mumma7 Received: 9 September 2019 / Accepted: 3 July 2020 / Published online: 30 July 2020 © The Author(s) 2020 Abstract Primitive objects like comets hold important information on the material that formed our solar system. Several comets have been visited by spacecraft and many more have been observed through Earth- and space-based telescopes. -
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. -
ABCD the 4Th Quarter 2013 Catalog
ABCD springer.com The 4th quarter 2013 catalog Medicine springer.com Dentistry 2 T. Eliades, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; G. Eliades, Dentistry University of Athens, Athens, Greece (Eds.) Medicine Plastics in Dentistry and K. Rötzscher (Ed.) Estrogenicity J. Sadek, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada Forensic and Legal Dentistry A Guide to Safe Practice A Clinician’s Guide to ADHD This book provides a timely and comprehensive This book both explains in detail diverse aspects of review of our current knowledge of BPA release from The Clinician’s Guide to ADHD combines the use- the law as it relates to dentistry and examines key dental polymers and the potential endocrinologi- ful diagnostic and treatment approaches advocated issues in forensic odontostomatology. A central aim cal consequences. After a review of the history and in different guidelines with insights from other is to enable the dentist to achieve a realistic assess- evolution of the issue within the broader biomedical sources, including recent literature reviews and web ment of the legal situation and to reduce uncer- context, the estrogenicity of BPA is explained. The resources. The aim is to provide clinicians with clear, tainties and liability risk. To this end, experts from basic chemistry of the polymers used in dentistry is concise, and reliable advice on how to approach this across the world discuss the dental law in their own then presented in a simplified and clinically relevant complex disorder. The guidelines referred to in com- countries, covering both civil and criminal law and manner. Key chapters in the book carefully evaluate piling the book derive from authoritative sources in highlighting key aspects such as patient rights, insur- the release of BPA from polycarbonate products and different regions of the world, including the United ance, and compensation. -
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. -
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. -
October 2017 BRAS Newsletter
October 2017 Issue Next Meeting: Monday, October 9th at 7PM at HRPO nd (2 Mondays, Highland Road Park Observatory) October Program: BRAS President John Nagle will. reveal how he researches and puts together his Observing Notes column for our newsletter each. month. What's In This Issue? HRPO’s Great American Eclipse Event Summary (Page 2) President’s Message Secretary's Summary Outreach Report - FAE Light Pollution Committee Report Recent Forum Entries 20/20 Vision Campaign Messages from the HRPO Spooky Spectrum Observe The Moon Night Natural Sky Conference HRPO 20th Anniversary Observing Notes – Phoenix & Mythology Like this newsletter? See past issues back to 2009 at http://brastro.org/newsletters.html Newsletter of the Baton Rouge Astronomical Society October 2017 President’s Message The first Sidewalk Astronomy of the season was a success. We had a good time, and About 100 people (adult and children) attended. Ben Toman live streamed on the BRAS Facebook page. See his description in this newsletter. A copy of the proposed, revised By-Laws should be in your mail soon. Read through them, and any proposed changes need to be communicated to me before the November meeting. Wally Pursell (who wrote the original and changed by-laws) and I worked last year on getting the By-Laws updated to the current BRAS policies, and we hope the revised By-Laws will need no revisions for a long time. We need more Globe at Night observations – we are behind in the observations compared to last year at this time. We also need observations of variable stars to help in a school project by a new BRAS member, Shreya. -
How We Found About COMETS
How we found about COMETS Isaac Asimov Isaac Asimov is a master storyteller, one of the world’s greatest writers of science fiction. He is also a noted expert on the history of scientific development, with a gift for explaining the wonders of science to non- experts, both young and old. These stories are science-facts, but just as readable as science fiction.Before we found out about comets, the superstitious thought they were signs of bad times ahead. The ancient Greeks called comets “aster kometes” meaning hairy stars. Even to the modern day astronomer, these nomads of the solar system remain a puzzle. Isaac Asimov makes a difficult subject understandable and enjoyable to read. 1. The hairy stars Human beings have been watching the sky at night for many thousands of years because it is so beautiful. For one thing, there are thousands of stars scattered over the sky, some brighter than others. These stars make a pattern that is the same night after night and that slowly turns in a smooth and regular way. There is the Moon, which does not seem a mere dot of light like the stars, but a larger body. Sometimes it is a perfect circle of light but at other times it is a different shape—a half circle or a curved crescent. It moves against the stars from night to night. One midnight, it could be near a particular star, and the next midnight, quite far away from that star. There are also visible 5 star-like objects that are brighter than the stars. -
The Professor Comet's Report Early Spring – April 2012
The Professor Comet’s Report 1 Mr. Justin J McCollum (BS, MS Physics) Lab Physics Coordinator Dept. of Physics Lamar University Welcome to the comet report which is a monthly article on the observations of comets by the amateur astronomy community and comet hunters from around the world! This C/2009 P1 Garradd with article is dedicated to the latest reports of available comets for Barred Spiral Galaxy NGC 4236 observations, current state of those comets, future 14 March 2011! predictions, & projections for observations in comet astronomy! Early Spring – April 2012 The Professor Comet’s Report 2 The Current Status of the Predominant Comets for Apr 2012! Comets Designation Orbital Magnitude Trend Observation Constellations Visibility (IAU – MPC) Status Visual (Range in (Night Sky Location) Period Lat.) Garradd 2009 P1 C 7.0* - 7.5 Fading 90°N – 30°S SW region of Ursa Major moving All Night SSW towards the SE region of Lynx. Giacobini - 21P P 9 – 10 Fading Poor N/A Zinner Elongation Lost in the daytime Glare! LINEAR 2011 F1 C 11 .7* Brightening 90°N – 20°S Undergoing retrograde motion All Night between Boötes and Draco thru the late Spring. Gehrels 2 78P P 12.2* Fading 60˚N - 20˚S Moving eastwards across Taurus Early Evening and progressing along the N edge of the Hyades Star Cluster! McNaught 2011 Q2 C 12.5 Fading 70˚N – Eqn. Currently in the S central region Early Morning of Andromeda moving NE between the boundary between Andromeda & Pisces. NEAT 246P/2010 V2 P 12.3* - 13 Possible 65˚N - 60˚S Undergoing retrograde motion All Night Steadiness in the E half of the N central region of Virgo until late June. -
Comet Section Observing Guide
Comet Section Observing Guide 1 The British Astronomical Association Comet Section www.britastro.org/comet BAA Comet Section Observing Guide Front cover image: C/1995 O1 (Hale-Bopp) by Geoffrey Johnstone on 1997 April 10. Back cover image: C/2011 W3 (Lovejoy) by Lester Barnes on 2011 December 23. © The British Astronomical Association 2018 2018 December (rev 4) 2 CONTENTS 1 Foreword .................................................................................................................................. 6 2 An introduction to comets ......................................................................................................... 7 2.1 Anatomy and origins ............................................................................................................................ 7 2.2 Naming .............................................................................................................................................. 12 2.3 Comet orbits ...................................................................................................................................... 13 2.4 Orbit evolution .................................................................................................................................... 15 2.5 Magnitudes ........................................................................................................................................ 18 3 Basic visual observation ........................................................................................................