Search

The release of volatiles from comets is usually from direct sublimation of ices on the nucleus, but for very or hyperactive comets other sources have to be considered to account for the total production rates. In this work, we present new near-IR (NIR) imaging and spectroscopic observations of 46P/Wirtanen taken during its close approach to Earth on 2018 December 19 with the MMIRS instrument at the MMT Observatory to search for signatures of icy or ice-rich grains in its inner coma that might explain its previously reported excess water production. The morphology of the images does not suggest any change in grain properties within the field of view, and the NIR spectra do not show the characteristic absorption features of water ice. Using a new Markov Chain Monte Carlo–based implementation of the spectral modeling approach of Protopapa et al., we estimate the areal water ice fraction of the coma to be Af ρ values for the J, H, and K bands and previously measured dust velocities for this comet, we estimate an icy grain production rate of less than 4.6 kg s−1. This places a strict constraint on the water production rate from pure icy grains in the coma, and in turn we find that for the 2018–2019 apparition approximately 64% of 46P’s surface was actively sublimating water near perihelion. We then discuss 46P’s modern properties within the context of other (formerly) hyperactive comets to understand how these complex objects evolve.

Jupiter-family comets are ephemeral small bodies injected into the inner solar system from the Kuiper Belt, doomed to either sublimate all their volatiles and become inert or violently shatter from the activity. We investigate two target candidates of the ESA Rosetta mission, comets 46P/Wirtanen and 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko, which had favorable apparitions for Earth-based observations in 2018–2019 and 2021, respectively. Using the Hubble Space Telescope STIS and COS instruments, we observed OH and CS emissions to characterize production rates of H2O and CS, established Af ρ values, and placed upper limits on the production rate of C2 and its parent. We find CS/H2O relative abundances that are significantly (5σ–7σ) larger than previous remote near-UV (NUV) measurements of 46P and 67P at similar heliocentric distances and CS/H2O values larger than those obtained via contemporaneous submillimeter observations for the same apparitions. We also find that for 67P the remote derivations of CS2/H2O ratios are substantially (∼50×) higher than the values measured by the ROSINA mass spectrometer on board the Rosetta spacecraft for all NUV-derived CS2 production rates. The discrepancy points toward an unidentified CS parent or parents with contributing factors from uncertainties with the fluorescence efficiencies of the CS (0,0) band of the A 1Π–X 1Σ+ system around 2580 Å. Given the significance of understanding the chemistry and dissociation physics of sulfur-bearing molecules in comets for tracing planetesimal formation environments, as well as the limited studies in this area, we propose several hypotheses to explain this discrepancy and outline future studies to address these issues.

Interstellar comets offer direct samples of volatiles from distant protoplanetary disks. 2I/Borisov is the first notably active interstellar comet discovered in our solar system[1]. Comets are condensed samples of the gas, ice, and dust that were in a star's protoplanetary disk during the formation of its planets and inform our understanding on how chemical compositions and abundances vary with distance from the central star. Their orbital migration moves volatiles[2], organic material, and prebiotic chemicals in their host system[3]. In our solar system, hundreds of comets have been observed remotely, and a few have been studied up close by space missions[4]. However, knowledge of extrasolar comets has been limited to what could be gleaned from distant, unresolved observations of cometary regions around other stars, with only one detection of carbon monoxide[5]. Here we report that the coma of 2I/Borisov contains significantly more CO than H2O gas, with abundances of at least 173%, more than three times higher than previously measured for any comet in the inner (

The relationship between the Near-Earth Objects (3200) Phaethon and (155140) 2005 UD is unclear. While both are parents to Meteor Showers, (the Geminids and Daytime Sextantids, respectively), have similar visible-wavelength reflectance spectra and orbits, dynamical investigations have failed to find any likely method to link the two objects in the recent past. Here we present the first near-infrared reflectance spectrum of 2005 UD, which shows it to be consistently linear and red-sloped unlike Phaethon's very blue and concave spectrum. Searching for a process that could alter some common starting material to both of these end states, we hypothesized that the two objects had been heated to different extents, motivated by their near-Sun orbits, the composition of Geminid meteoroids, and previous models of Phaethon's surface. We thus set about building a new laboratory apparatus to acquire reflectance spectra of meteoritic samples after heating to higher temperatures than available in the literature to test this hypothesis and were loaned a sample of the CI Chondrite Orgueil from the Vatican Meteorite Collection for testing. We find that while Phaethon's spectrum shares many similarities with different CI Chondrites, 2005 UD's does not. We thus conclude that the most likely relationship between the two objects is that their similar properties are only by coincidence as opposed to a parent-fragment scenario, though the ultimate test will be when JAXA's DESTINY+ mission visits one or both objects later this decade. We also discuss possible paths forward to understanding Phaethon's properties from dynamical and compositional grounds., 32 pages, 5 body figures, 2 appendix figures. Accepted in the Planetary Science Journal on August 5, 2021

Aspera is an extreme-UV (EUV) Astrophysics small satellite telescope designed to map the warm-hot phase coronal gas around nearby galaxy halos. Theory suggests that this gas is a significant fraction of a galaxy’s halo mass and plays a critical role in its evolution, but its exact role is poorly understood. Aspera observes this warm-hot phase gas via Ovi emission at 1032 °A using four parallel Rowland-Circle-like spectrograph channels in a single payload. Aspera’s robust-and-simple design is inspired by the FUSE spectrograph, but with smaller, four 6.2 cm × 3.7 cm, off-axis parabolic primary mirrors. Aspera is expected to achieve a sensitivity of 4.3×10⁻¹⁹ erg/s/cm²/arcsec² for diffuse Ovi line emission. This superb sensitivity is enabled by technological advancements over the last decade in UV coatings, gratings, and detectors. Here we present the overall payload design of the Aspera telescope and its expected performance. Aspera is funded by the inaugural 2020 NASA Astrophysics Pioneers program, with a projected launch in late 2024.

Nereid, Neptune's third largest satellite, lies in an irregular orbit and is the only outer satellite in the system (apart from Triton) that can be spectroscopically characterized with the current generation of Earth-based telescopes. We report our results on spectral characterization of Nereid using its reflectance spectrum from 0.8-2.4 $\mu m$, providing the first measurements over the range of 0.8-1.4 $\mu m$. We detect spectral absorption features of crystalline water ice in close agreement with previous measurements. We show that model fits of simple intimate mixtures including water ice do not provide simultaneous matches to absorption band depths at 1.5 and 2.0 $\mu m$ when accounting for the spectral continuum. Possible solutions include invoking a more complex continuum, including both crystalline and amorphous water ice, and allowing for sub-micron sized grains. We show that mixtures including magnetite and the CM2 chondrite Murchison provide a flexible framework for interpreting spectral variation of bodies with neutral-sloped spectra like that of Nereid. Magnetite in particular provides a good match to the spectral continuum without requiring the presence of Tholin-like organics. We note that carbonaceous chondrites and their components may be useful analogs for the non-ice components of outer solar system bodies, consistent with recent findings by Fraser et al. (2019). Comparison to spectra of large TNOs and satellites of Uranus show that Nereid's low albedo, deep water bands, and neutral color is distinct from many other icy objects, but such comparisons are limited by incomplete understanding of spectral variability among $\sim$100km-sized icy bodies., Comment: 11 pages, 2 tables, 7 figures, accepted in PSJ

著者人数: 69名 (所属. 宇宙航空研究開発機構宇宙科学研究所(JAXA)(ISAS): 吉川, 真), Number of authors: 69 (Affiliation. Institute of Space and Astronautical Science, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency(JAXA)(ISAS): Yoshikawa, Makoto), Accepted: 2019-02-14, 資料番号: SA1190045000

International audience

All reflective spatial heterodyne spectrometers (SHS) are a compact self-scanning Fourier transform spectrometer (FTS) device capable of providing line-resolved measurements of wide-field emissions at far greater sensitivity than existing echelle- based instruments at large telescopes. Their use of reflective optical components further enables their use in UV, particularly at wavelengths below 160 nm where options for transmitting elements are few or non-existent. We have been developing advanced prototype SHS instruments that are optimized to provide single-line and broadband performance in the UV. These prototypes do not require large telescopes to achieve sensitivity and are sufficiently compact that can be incorporated in the SmallSat and robotic probes. In this presentation I will describe the basic functionality of the SHS, our previous development, and the progress toward flight-ready instruments that can be incorporated into future mission concepts. All reflective spatial heterodyne spectrometers (SHS) are a compact self-scanning Fourier transform spectrometer (FTS) device capable of providing line-resolved measurements of wide-field emissions at far greater sensitivity than existing echelle- based instruments at large telescopes. Their use of reflective optical components further enables their use in UV, particularly at wavelengths below 160 nm where options for transmitting elements are few or non-existent. We have been developing advanced prototype SHS instruments that are optimized to provide single-line and broadband performance in the UV. These prototypes do not require large telescopes to achieve sensitivity and are sufficiently compact that can be incorporated in the SmallSat and robotic probes. In this presentation I will describe the basic functionality of the SHS, our previous development, and the progress toward flight-ready instruments that can be incorporated into future mission concepts.

The near-Earth comet P/2016 BA14 (PanSTARRS) is a slow-rotating, nearly dormant object, a likely dynamical twin of 252P/LINEAR, and was recently shown to have a mid-infrared spectrum very dissimilar to other comets. Comet BA14 was also recently selected as one of the backup targets for the ESA’s Comet Interceptor, so a clearer understanding of BA14's modern properties would not just improve our understanding of how comets go dormant but could also aid in planning for a potential spacecraft visit. We present observations of BA14 during its 2016 Earth close approach taken with the NASA Infrared Telescope Facility on two dates, both of which are consistent with direct observations of its nucleus. The reflectance spectrum of BA14 is similar to 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko, albeit highly phase-reddened. Thermal emission contaminates the reflectance spectrum at longer wavelengths, which we correct with a new Markov Chain Monte Carlo thermal modeling code. The models suggest that BA14's visible geometric albedo is p V = 0.01–0.03, consistent with radar observations; its beaming parameter is typical for NEOs observed in its geometry; and its reflectance spectrum is red and linear throughout the H and K bands. It appears very much like a “normal” comet nucleus despite its mid-infrared oddities. A slow loss of fine grains as the object’s activity diminished might help to reconcile some of the lines of evidence, and we discuss other possibilities. A spacecraft flyby past BA14 could get closer to the nucleus than with a more active target, and we highlight some science questions that could be addressed with a visit to a (nearly) dormant comet.

We will present the results of coordinated observations of 2I/Borisov with the Neil Gehrels-Swift observatory (Swift) and Hubble Space Telescope (HST), which allowed us to provide the first glimpse into the ice content and chemical composition of the protoplanetary disk of another star. Comets are condensed samples of the gas, ice and dust that were in a star’s protoplanetary disk during the formation of its planets, and inform our understanding on how chemical compositions and abundances vary with distance from the central star. Their orbital migration distributes volatiles [1], organic material and prebiotic chemicals around their host system [2]. In our Solar System, hundreds of comets have been observed remotely, and a few have been studied up close by space missions [3]. Similarly, interstellar comets offer a glimpse into the building blocks, formation, and evolution of other planetary systems. However, knowledge of extrasolar comets has been limited to what could be gleaned from distant, unresolved observations of cometary regions around other stars. 2I/Borisov, discovered in Aug. 2019, is the first notably active interstellar comet discovered in our Solar System [4]. We used the UltraViolet Optical Telescope (UVOT) of Swift to determine 2I/Borisov’s water production rates and dust content surrounding the nucleus at six epochs spaced before and after perihelion on Dec. 8.55, 2019 UTC (-2.56AU to 2.54AU) [5]. Water production rates increased steadily before perihelion at a rate of increase quicker than that of most dynamically new comets but slower than most Jupiter-family comets. After perihelion, the water production rate decreased much more rapidly than that of all previously observed comets. We used a sublimation model to constrain the active area and minimum radius of the nucleus, and found that a significant fraction of the surface of Borisov is active. We also used Cosmic Origins Spectrograph (COS) on the HST during four epochs around the perihelion and clearly detected the emissions of several bands of the CO Fourth Positive system, which we used to derive CO production rates [6]. Comparing these with the water production rates determined by Swift, we found that after perihelion, the coma of 2I/Borisov contains substantially more CO than H2O gas. Our abundances were more than three times higher than previously measured for any comet in the inner ( Fig. 1 Volatile production rates as a function of time relative to perihelion [6]. The production rates of CO measured with HST/COS (this work) and the water production rate measured by Swift (based on OH, open circles; 5) and the Very Large Telescope/UVES (based on OH, 8), and at the Apache Point Observatory (based on [OI], 9). Arrows indicate 3-σ upper limits, and error bars indicate 1-σ stochastic uncertainties. The grey line indicates the temporal trend of water production rates used to derive the elemental composition. References: [1] Cleeves, L. I. et al. The ancient heritage of water ice in the solar system. Science 345, 1590–1593 (2014). [2] Rubin, M., Bekaert, D. V., Broadley, M. W., Drozdovskaya, M. N., and Wampfler, S. F. Volatile Species in Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko: Investigating the Link from the ISM to the Terrestrial Planets. ACS Publ. 3, 1792–1811 (2019). [3] Bockelée-Morvan, D. & Biver, N. The composition of cometary ices. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. A 375, 20160252–11 (2017). [4] Guzik, P. et al. Initial characterization of interstellar comet 2I/Borisov. Nature Astron. 4, 53 - 57 (2019). [5] Xing, Z., Bodewits, D., Noonan, J., and Bannister, M. T. Water Production Rates and Activity of Interstellar Comet 2I/Borisov. Astrophys. J. 893, L48 (2020). [6] Bodewits, D., Noonan, J. et al. The carbon monoxide-rich interstellar comet 2I/Borisov. Nature Astron. doi:10.1038/s41550-020-1095-2 (2020). [7] Cordiner, M.A., Milam, S.N., Biver, N. et al. Unusually high CO abundance of the first active interstellar comet. Nature doi:Astron.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41550-020-1087-2 (2020). [8] Lupu, R. E., Feldman, P. D., Weaver, H. A. & Tozzi, G.-P. The Fourth Positive System of Carbon Monoxide in the Hubble Space Telescope Spectra of Comets. Astrophys. J. 670, 1473-1484 (2007). [9] McKay, A. J., Cochran, A. L., Dello Russo, N. & DiSanti, M. A. Detection of a Water Tracer in Interstellar Comet 2I/Borisov. Astrophys. J. 889, L10 (2020)

We seek to compile a uniform set of basic capabilities and needs to maximize the yield of Solar System science with future Astrophysics assets while allowing those assets to achieve their Astrophysics priorities. Within considerations of cost and complexity, inclusion of capabilities that make a particular platform useable to planetary science provide a critical advantage over platforms lacking such capabilities., Small Bodies Assessment Group Committee on Planetary Science with Astrophysical Assets, submitted to The National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine\'s Call to the Astronomy and Astrophysics Community for Science White Papers

Far ultraviolet observations of comets yield information about the energetic processes that dissociate the sublimated gases from their primitive surfaces. Understanding which emission processes are dominant, their effects on the observed cometary spectrum, and how to properly invert the spectrum back to composition of the presumably pristine surface ices of a comet nuclei are all critical components for proper interpretation and analysis of comets. The close approach of comet 46P/Wirtanen in 2018-2019 provided a unique opportunity to study the inner most parts of a cometary coma with the Hubble Space Telescope Cosmic Origins Spectrograph, rarely accessible with remote observations, at length scales (100's of km) and wavelengths (900-1430 Angstroms) previously probed only by the European Space Agency's Rosetta spacecraft. Our observations show a complex picture for the inner coma; atomic production rates for H and O that show water is the dominant source of both, an abundance of atomic sulfur that is difficult to explain with the lifetimes of common sulfur parent molecules, and a density distribution that is poorly fit with both Haser and vectorial models., Comment: 16 pages, 9 figures. Accepted in A'Hearn Special Issue of Planetary Science Journal

Studying materials released from Jupiter-family comets (JFCs)—as seen in their inner comae, the envelope of gas and dust that forms as the comet approaches the Sun—improves the understanding of their origin and evolutionary history. As part of a coordinated, multiwavelength observing campaign, we observed comet 45P/Honda–Mrkos–Pajdušáková during its close approach to Earth in 2017 February. Narrowband observations were taken using the Bok 90″ telescope at Kitt Peak National Observatory on February 16 and 17 UT, revealing gas and dust structures. We observed different jet directions for different volatile species, implying source region heterogeneity, consistent with other ground-based and in situ observations of other comet nuclei. A repeating feature visible in CN and C2 images on February 16 was also observed on February 17 with an interval of 7.6 ± 0.1 hr, consistent with the rotation period of the comet derived from Arecibo Observatory radar observations. The repeating feature’s projected gas velocity away from the nucleus is 0.8 km s−1, with an outflow velocity of 0.5 km s−1. A bright compact spot adjacent to the nucleus provides a lower limit of the amount of material released in one cycle of ∼9.2 kg, depending on composition—a quantity small enough to be produced by repeated exposure of nucleus ices to sunlight. This repeating CN jet, forming within 400 km of the nucleus, may be typical of inner-coma behavior in JFCs; however, similar features could be obscured by other processes and daughter product species when viewed from distances further than the scale length of CN molecules.

High-resolution infrared spectra of comet C/2014 Q2 Lovejoy were acquired with NIRSPEC at the W. M. Keck Observatory on two post-perihelion dates (UT 2015 February 2 and 3). H2O was measured simultaneously with CO, CH3OH, H2CO, CH4, C2H6, C2H4, C2H2, HCN, and NH3 on both dates, and rotational temperatures, production rates, relative abundances, H2O ortho-to-para ratios, and spatial distributions in the coma were determined. The first detection of C2H4 in a comet from ground-based observations is reported. Abundances relative to H2O for all species were found to be in the typical range compared with values for other comets in the overall population to date. There is evidence of variability in rotational temperatures and production rates on timescales that are small compared with the rotational period of the comet. Spatial distributions of volatiles in the coma suggest complex outgassing behavior. CH3OH, HCN, C2H6, and CH4 spatial distributions in the coma are consistent with direct release from associated ices in the nucleus and are peaked in a more sunward direction compared with co-measured dust. H2O spatial profiles are clearly distinct from these other four species, likely due to a sizable coma contribution from icy grain sublimation. Spatial distributions for C2H2, H2CO, and NH3 suggest substantial contributions from extended coma sources, providing further evidence for distinct origins and associations for these species in comets. CO shows a different spatial distribution compared with other volatiles, consistent with jet activity from discrete nucleus ice sources.

We present H$_2$O production rates for comet C/2012 S1 (ISON) derived from observations of [OI] and OH emission during its inbound leg, covering a heliocentric distance range of 1.8-0.44 AU. Our production rates are in agreement with previous measurements using a variety of instruments and techniques and with data from the various observatories greatly differing in their projected fields of view. The consistent results across all data suggest the absence of an extended source of H$_2$O production, for example sublimation of icy grains in the coma, or a source with spatial extent confined to the dimensions of the smallest projected field of view (in this case $ 1.2 AU, which then decreased to about half this value from R$_h$=1.2-0.9 AU. This was followed by a rapid increase in active area at about R$_h$=0.6 AU, corresponding to the first of three major outbursts ISON experienced inside of 1 AU. The combination of a detected outburst in the light curve and rapid increase in active area likely indicates a major nucleus fragmentation event. The 5-10 km$^2$ active area observed outside of R$_h$=0.6 AU is consistent with a 50-100% active fraction for the nucleus, larger than typically observed for cometary nuclei. Although the absolute value of the active area is somewhat dependent on the thermal model employed, the changes in active area observed are consistent among models. The conclusion of a 50-100+% active fraction is robust for realistic thermal models of the nucleus. However the possibility of a contribution of a spatially unresolved distribution of icy grains cannot be discounted., Comment: 26 pages, 5 figures, 5 tables, accepted for publication in Icarus

Using the gas drag by sublimating cometary surface ices for the acceleration of dust particles and deceleration by the gravity field of the nucleus combined with basic laws of mechanics, the sizes, velocities, and number densities of escaping particles are calculated and evaluated with respect to the hazard assessment of comet–spacecraft flybys and encounters. We find good agreement between our analytical method and the more elaborate and precise DSMC calculations, but, being simpler, our method can more easily be used to explore a wide range of cometary conditions and can be more easily scaled to specific comets with different nucleus sizes, masses, and gravity potentials and various gas and dust production rates. Our analytical method is applied to outbursts expanding into a cone of ∼60°, where the gas density falls off with height from the surface rather than radial distance from the center of a uniformly outgassing nucleus. In this scenario, larger dust particles can be ejected and attain ballistic trajectories, go into orbit, or escape from the nucleus, thus being potentially more hazardous to a spacecraft. Sample calculations are carried out for potential dust outbursts for the highly active Centaur/Comet 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1 for various assumed active areas and dust particle size distributions. Particle velocity ranges for ballistic trajectories, orbiting particles, and particles escaping into the coma are presented. These calculations are used to estimate the coma particle number densities during outbursts to get an assessment of the hazards and required mitigation for a flyby or orbiting space mission.

We present near-infrared reflectance spectra from 0.7 to 2.5 μm taken 2021 April 30 at the NASA Infrared Telescope Facility that show strong evidence for water ice within the coma of comet C/2017 K2 (PanSTARRS) at a heliocentric distance of R H = 6.488 au. This object has likely been active since ∼35 au inbound and this provides a key piece of information to interpreting these early observations, understanding its dust properties, and assessing its overall volatile inventory and release mechanisms. A preliminary spectral model is best-fit with a volume fraction of ice of ∼14% assuming that the refractory and volatile materials are mixed intimately. More sophisticated modeling and a deeper analysis of these data will be presented in a manuscript to be submitted later this year.

The parent of the Quadrantid meteor shower is the inactive solar system small body (196256) 2003 EH1. EH1 has likely only gone dormant in the past few hundred years, and may be related to the bright comet C/1490 Y1. Compared with the other best-studied inactive meteor shower parent (3200) Phaethon, EH1 has received comparatively minimal characterization of its surface properties. We present the first reflectance spectrum and additional photometry of EH1, as well as new spectra of the nuclei of three nearly dormant comets P/2006 HR30 (Siding Spring), 364P/Pan-STARRS, and 249P/LINEAR for comparison. We also present new short-term high-resolution orbital integrations of these bodies for context. EH1s spectrum is red in color below 0.8 μm in between C and D types, consistent with previous photometric measurements, but is blue beyond 0.8 μm until at least 1.02 μm. 249P and 364P have both red slopes consistent with C taxonomic types and HR30 has a classic comet nucleus D-type slope. If the downturn in EH1’s spectrum is due to an absorption feature, magnetite and olivine are plausible candidates, but more data are needed. 249P and 364P have similar recent and historical dynamical evolutions in addition to their similar surface properties. We discuss the interrelation between the dynamical histories and modern surfaces of these four objects and suggest avenues for further study to better constrain how the Quadrantids and Geminids were created.

The recently discovered object P/2019 LD2 (ATLAS) was initially thought to be a Jupiter Trojan asteroid, until dynamical studies and the appearance of persistent cometary activity revealed that this object is actually an active Centaur. However, the dynamical history, thermal environment, and impact of such environments on the activity of 2019 LD2 are poorly understood. Here we conduct dynamical simulations to constrain its orbital history and resulting thermal environment over the past 3000 years. We find that 2019 LD2 is currently in the vicinity of a dynamical "Gateway" that facilitates the majority of transitions from the Centaur population into the Jupiter Family of Comets (JFC population; Sarid et al. 2019). Our calculations show that it is unlikely to have spent significant amounts of time in the inner solar system, suggesting that its nucleus is relatively pristine in terms of physical, chemical, and thermal processing through its history. This could explain its relatively high level of distant activity as a recently activated primordial body. Finally, we find that the median frequency of transition from the Gateway population into the JFC population varies from once every ~3 years to less than once every 70 years, if 2019 LD2's nucleus is ~1 km in radius or greater than 3 km in radius. Forward modeling of 2019 LD2 shows that it will transition into the JFC population in 2063, representing the first known opportunity to observe the evolution of an active Centaur nucleus as it experiences this population-defining transition., Submitted to AAS Journals for publication

We investigate the recent and future orbital evolution of the solar system small body 2019 LD2 (hereafter "LD2"), which was recently found to show cometary activity. While LD2's orbit initially looks similar to that of a Jupiter Trojan, numerical integrations show that it is only co-orbital with Jupiter for approximately a single orbit around the Sun. This would classify LD2 as an active Centaur, but we stress this object remains unique; within the next ~40–50 years LD2 is likely to become a Jupiter Family Comet, offering an opportunity to observe this critical transition.

We describe the design considerations, installation, and technical challenges of coupling a cyclical spatial heterodyne spectrometer (SHS) with the Cassegrain telescope at the Lick Observatory on Mt. Hamilton, California. The SHS instrument (named Khayyam after the mathematician) is mounted to a fixed focal plane shared by the 0.6-m Cassegrain Coude Auxiliary Telescope (CAT) and has the field-of-view of ∼4 arc min, on the sky, spectral resolving power (R) of 48,000 and a tunable wavelength bandpass range over ΔλB ∼ 150 Å. This instrument–telescope pairing is optimal for temporal observations of extended astronomical targets, e.g., cometary coma, when significant observing time is available since it provides high-resolution spectra from small input apertures. Khayyam’s approach contrasts with traditional high spectral resolution spectrometers that need to be coupled to large aperture telescopes to compensate for their low throughput. Based on our reference lamp results, we were able to formulate the undesirable impact of the spider pattern on the SHS data that prohibited us from acquiring spectra from our sky targets. However, more analysis is needed to investigate if we can create a framework to systematically eliminate the diffracted spider pattern shadow from the fringe pattern without compromising the integrity and quality of the data.

The composition of comets in the Solar System come in multiple groups thought to encode information about their formation in different regions of the outer protosolar disk. The recent discovery of the second interstellar object, 2I/Borisov, allows for spectroscopic investigations into its gas content and a preliminary classification of it within the Solar System comet taxonomies to test the applicability of planetesimal formation models to other stellar systems. We present spectroscopic and imaging observations from 2019 September 20th to October 26th at the Bok, MMT, and LBT telescopes. We identify CN in the comet's spectrum and set precise upper limits on the abundance of C2 on all dates. We use a Haser model to convert our integrated fluxes to production rates and find Q(CN) = 5.0 +/- 2.0 * 10^24 mol/s on September 20th and Q(CN) = 1.1 - 1.9 * 10^24 mol/s on later dates, both consistent with contemporaneous observations. We set our lowest upper limit on a C2 production rate, Q(C2) < 1.6 * 10^23 mol/s, on October 10th. The measured ratio upper limit for that date, Q(C2)/Q(CN) < 0.095 indicates that 2I/Borisov is strongly in the (carbon chain) 'depleted' taxonomic group. The only comparable Solar System comets have detected ratios near this limit, making 2I/Borisov statistically likely to be more depleted than any known comet. Most 'depleted' comets are Jupiter Family Comets, perhaps indicating a similiarity in formation conditions between the most depleted of the JFCs and 2I/Borisov. More work is needed to understand the applicability of our knowledge of Solar System comet taxonomies onto interstellar objects, and we discuss future work that could help clarify the usefulness of the approach., 10 pages, 3 figures, in revision at Astrophysical Journal Letters with new data

A RSHS is an interferometric technique with broad applicability for remote sensing of diffuse emissions. We report on lab, field, and spaceflight development of RSHS for narrow and broadband applications from the EUV.

International audience; Comets play a dual role in understanding the formation and evolution of the solar system. First, the composition of comets provides information about the origin of the giant planets and their moons because comets formed early and their composition is not expected to have evolved significantly since formation. They, therefore serve as a record of conditions during the early stages of solar system formation. Once comets had formed, their orbits were perturbed allowing them to travel into the inner solar system and impact the planets. In this way they contributed to the volatile inventory of planetary atmospheres. We review here how knowledge of comet composition up to the time of the Rosetta mission has contributed to understanding the formation processes of the giant planets, their moons and small icy bodies in the solar system. We also discuss how comets contributed to the volatile inventories of the giant and terrestrial planets.

We present analysis of high spectral resolution NIR spectra of CO and H$_2$O in comet C/2009 P1 (Garradd) taken during its 2011-2012 apparition with the CSHELL instrument on NASA's Infrared Telescope Facility (IRTF). We also present analysis of observations of atomic oxygen in comet Garradd obtained with the ARCES echelle spectrometer mounted on the ARC 3.5-meter telescope at Apache Point Observatory and the Tull Coude spectrograph on the Harlan J. Smith 2.7-meter telescope at McDonald Observatory. The observations of atomic oxygen serve as a proxy for H$_2$O and CO$_2$. We confirm the high CO abundance in comet Garradd and the asymmetry in the CO/H$_2$O ratio with respect to perihelion reported by previous studies. From the oxygen observations, we infer that the CO$_2$/H$_2$O ratio decreased as the comet moved towards the Sun, which is expected based on current sublimation models. We also infer that the CO$_2$/H$_2$O ratio was higher pre-perihelion than post-perihelion. We observe evidence for the icy grain source of H$_2$O reported by several studies pre-perihelion, and argue that this source is significantly less abundant post-perihelion. Since H$_2$O, CO$_2$, and CO are the primary ices in comets, they drive the activity. We use our measurements of these important volatiles in an attempt to explain the evolution of Garradd's activity over the apparition., 35 pages, 10 figures, 9 tables, accepted for publication in Icarus

Reflective Spatial Heterodyne Spectroscopy (SHS) is an interferometric technique that combines high resolving power and a large input acceptance angle in a format that is compact enough for use at small telescope focal planes and in spacecraft observations of targets in the visible to far ultra-violet (FUV) spectral range. SHS instruments are well suited to the study of faint, extended emission line sources, particularly in the UV where stellar background continuum becomes weak. Their primary limitation comes from the limited spatial sampling of the output interference pattern generated by the incoming spectral source, which limits their use to narrow bandpass near the central tuning wavelength. We describe a the first light results from a broadband SHS that can be used to scan the tuning wavelength across a bandpass extending from 300 to 700 nm. The limitations on the bandpass are arbitrary and can easily be extended into the UV or near infrared. We discuss the results of these validation program and the potential improvements that could be used to expand and/or improve the broadband spectral response of the instrument.

The Large Ultraviolet/Optical/Infrared Surveyor (LUVOIR) is one of four large mission concepts currently undergoing community study for consideration by the 2020 Astronomy and Astrophysics Decadal Survey. LUVOIR is being designed to pursue an ambitious program of exoplanetary discovery and characterization, cosmic origins astrophysics, and planetary science. The LUVOIR study team is investigating two large telescope apertures (9- and 15-meter primary mirror diameters) and a host of science instruments to carry out the primary mission goals. Many of the exoplanet, cosmic origins, and planetary science goals of LUVOIR require high-throughput, imaging spectroscopy at ultraviolet (100 – 400 nm) wavelengths. The LUVOIR Ultraviolet Multi-Object Spectrograph, LUMOS, is being designed to support all of the UV science requirements of LUVOIR, from exoplanet host star characterization to tomography of circumgalactic halos to water plumes on outer solar system satellites. LUMOS offers point source and multi-object spectroscopy across the UV bandpass, with multiple resolution modes to support different science goals. The instrument will provide low (R = 8,000 – 18,000) and medium (R = 30,000 – 65,000) resolution modes across the far-ultraviolet (FUV: 100 – 200 nm) and nearultraviolet (NUV: 200 – 400 nm) windows, and a very low resolution mode (R = 500) for spectroscopic investigations of extremely faint objects in the FUV. Imaging spectroscopy will be accomplished over a 3 × 1.6 arcminute field-of-view by employing holographically-ruled diffraction gratings to control optical aberrations, microshutter arrays (MSA) built on the heritage of the Near Infrared Spectrograph (NIRSpec) on the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), advanced optical coatings for high-throughput in the FUV, and next generation large-format photon-counting detectors. The spectroscopic capabilities of LUMOS are augmented by an FUV imaging channel (100 – 200nm, 13 milliarcsecond angular resolution, 2 × 2 arcminute field-of-view) that will employ a complement of narrow- and medium-band filters. The instrument definition, design, and development are being carried out by an instrument study team led by the University of Colorado, Goddard Space Flight Center, and the LUVOIR Science and Technology Definition Team. LUMOS has recently completed a preliminary design in Goddard’s Instrument Design Laboratory and is being incorporated into the working LUVOIR mission concept. In this proceeding, we describe the instrument requirements for LUMOS, the instrument design, and technology development recommendations to support the hardware required for LUMOS. We present an overview of LUMOS’ observing modes and estimated performance curves for effective area, spectral resolution, and imaging performance. Example “LUMOS 100-hour Highlights” observing programs are presented to demonstrate the potential power of LUVOIR’s ultraviolet spectroscopic capabilities.

Microchannel plate (MCP) detectors have been the detector of choice for ultraviolet (UV) instruments onboard many NASA missions. These detectors have many advantages, including high spatial resolution (

We present a preliminary design for a novel neutron detection system that is compact, lightweight, and low power consuming, utilizing the CubeSat platform making it suitable for space-based applications. This is made possible using the scintillating crystal lithium indium diselenide ( 6 LiInSe 2 ), the first crystal to include 6Li in the crystalline structure, and a silicon avalanche photodiode (Si-APD). The schematics of this instrument are presented as well as the response of the instrument to initial testing under alpha, gamma and neutron radiation. A principal aim of this work is to demonstrate the feasibility of such a neutron detection system within a CubeSat platform. The entire end-to-end system presented here is 10 cm x 10 cm x 15 cm, weighs 670 grams and requires 5 V direct current at 3 Watts.

We present analysis of high spectral resolution optical spectra of Comet 103P/Hartley taken during its Fall 2010 apparition. These spectra include transitions belonging to CN, C2, CH, NH2, and OI. We measure production rates and mixing ratios from these spectra. We find evidence for large changes in production rates (factors of a few) over the course of a nucleus rotation, in agreement with other measurements. We also measure variability with rotational phase in the CN/H2O and C2/CN ratios, which has not been previously reported for any comet. There may also be variability in the NH2/H2O ratio with rotational phase, but this trend is not as clear as for CN/H2O. We interpret the changing mixing ratios as due to H2O and C2 being released primarily from the icy grain halo, while the CN parent molecule comes directly from the nucleus. There is evidence that the CH/CN ratio is higher pre-perihelion than post-perihelion. We conclude that the observed CN and NH2 abundances are consistent with HCN and NH3 being the dominant parent molecules for these species. The C2 and CH abundances are higher than those of candidate parent molecules (C2H2 and CH4 respectively), so there must be another source for these molecules in 103P’s coma. Carbonaceous dust grains could serve as this source.

NASA Near-Earth Object Observations (NEOO) program grant [NNXAL06G]; state of Arizona Technology Research Initiative Fund (TRIF)

Jupiter-family comets (JFCs) are the evolutionary products of trans-Neptunian objects (TNOs) that evolve through the giant planet region as Centaurs and into the inner solar system. Through numerical orbital evolution calculations following a large number of TNO test particles that enter the Centaur population, we have identified a short-lived dynamical Gateway, a temporary low-eccentricity region exterior to Jupiter through which the majority of JFCs pass. We apply an observationally based size distribution function to the known Centaur population and obtain an estimated Gateway region population. We then apply an empirical fading law to the rate of incoming JFCs implied by the the Gateway region residence times. Our derived estimates are consistent with observed population numbers for the JFC and Gateway populations. Currently, the most notable occupant of the Gateway region is 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1 (SW1), a highly active, regularly outbursting Centaur. SW1's present-day, very-low-eccentricity orbit was established after a 1975 Jupiter conjunction and will persist until a 2038 Jupiter conjunction doubles its eccentricity and pushes its semi-major axis out to its current aphelion. Subsequent evolution will likely drive SW1's orbit out of the Gateway region, perhaps becoming one of the largest JFCs in recorded history. The JFC Gateway region coincides with a heliocentric distance range where the activity of observed cometary bodies increases significantly. SW1's activity may be typical of the early evolutionary processing experienced by most JFCs. Thus, the Gateway region, and its most notable occupant SW1, are critical to both the dynamical and physical transition between Centaurs and JFCs., 12 pages, 4 figures, 1 table. Revised and proof-corrected version. Accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journal Letters

We present analysis of observations of the forbidden oxygen lines in Comet 103P/Hartley, the target of the Deep Impact Extended Investigation (DIXI), during its Fall 2010 apparition. We obtained the observations using the ARCES echelle spectrometer mounted on the Astrophysical Research Consortium (ARC) 3.5-m telescope at Apache Point Observatory. We detected the 5577, 6300, and 6364 A lines on all dates, and so were able to calculate the ratio of the 5577 A line intensity to the sum of the intensities of the 6300 A and 6364 A lines (the oxygen line ratio). A ratio of 0.05–0.1 would suggest that water is the dominant parent, while a higher ratio suggests that another volatile, such as CO2, is an important contributor to the O I population. We find a range of values for the oxygen line ratio varying from ∼0.05–0.13. This range includes values that are higher than those typically measured for comets observed at a similar heliocentric distance to 103P (∼1 AU). The higher measured ratio is likely a result of a higher intrinsic CO2 abundance in the material released from 103P than typical comets, as found by direct measurements of CO2 and H2O made by the DIXI spacecraft. The CO2/H2O ratio in 103P was also observed by the DIXI spacecraft to vary significantly with rotational phase of the nucleus, which explains the large range of oxygen line ratios observed. These observations of the forbidden oxygen lines in 103P, a comet for which a directly observed CO2/H2O ratio is available, suggest that high quality observations of the forbidden oxygen lines in comets can serve as a proxy for CO2/H2O ratio measurements.

In the temporal study of faint, extended sources at high resolving power, Spatial Heterodyne Spectrometer (SHS) can offer significant advantages about conventional dispersive grating spectrometers. We describe here a four-year continuous progress in Mt. Hamilton, Lick Observatory, toward development of a prototype reflective Spacial Heterodyne Spectrometer, Khayyam, instrument-telescope configuration to combine all of the capabilities necessary to obtain high resolving power visible band spectra of diffuse targets from small aperture on-axis telescopes where significant observing time can be obtained. We will discuss the design considerations going into this new system, installation, testing of the interferometer-telescope combination, the technical challenges and procedures moving forward.

Volatile production rates, relative abundances, rotational temperatures, and spatial distributions in the coma were measured in C/2012 S1 (ISON) using long-slit high-dispersion ( λ /Δ λ ∼ 2.5 × 10 4 ) infrared spectroscopy as part of a worldwide observing campaign. Spectra were obtained on UT 2013 October 26 and 28 with NIRSPEC at the W.M. Keck Observatory, and UT 2013 November 19 and 20 with CSHELL at the NASA IRTF. H 2 O was detected on all dates, with production rates increasing markedly from (8.7 ± 1.5) × 10 27 molecules s −1 on October 26 ( R h = 1.12 AU) to (3.7 ± 0.4) × 10 29 molecules s −1 on November 20 ( R h = 0.43 AU). Short-term variability of H 2 O production is also seen as observations on November 19 show an increase in H 2 O production rate of nearly a factor of two over a period of about 6 h. C 2 H 6 , CH 3 OH and CH 4 abundances in ISON are slightly depleted relative to H 2 O when compared to mean values for comets measured at infrared wavelengths. On the November dates, C 2 H 2 , HCN and OCS abundances relative to H 2 O appear to be within the range of mean values, whereas H 2 CO and NH 3 were significantly enhanced. There is evidence that the abundances with respect to H 2 O increased for some species but not others between October 28 ( R h = 1.07 AU) and November 19 ( R h = 0.46 AU). The high mixing ratios of H 2 CO/CH 3 OH and C 2 H 2 /C 2 H 6 on November 19, and changes in the mixing ratios of some species with respect to H 2 O between October 28 to November 19, indicates compositional changes that may be the result of a transition from sampling radiation-processed outer layers in this dynamically new comet to sampling more pristine natal material as the outer processed layer was increasingly eroded and the thermal wave propagated into the nucleus as the comet approached perihelion for the first time. On November 19 and 20, the spatial distribution for dust appears asymmetric and enhanced in the antisolar direction, whereas spatial distributions for volatiles (excepting CN) appear symmetric with their peaks slightly offset in the sunward direction compared to the dust. Spatial distributions for H 2 O, HCN, C 2 H 6 , C 2 H 2 , and H 2 CO on November 19 show no definitive evidence for significant contributions from extended sources; however, broader spatial distributions for NH 3 and OCS may be consistent with extended sources for these species. Abundances of HCN and C 2 H 2 on November 19 and 20 are insufficient to account for reported abundances of CN and C 2 in ISON near this time. Differences in HCN and CN spatial distributions are also consistent with HCN as only a minor source of CN in ISON on November 19 as the spatial distribution of CN in the coma suggests a dominant distributed source that is correlated with dust and not volatile release. The spatial distributions for NH 3 and NH 2 are similar, suggesting that NH 3 is the primary source of NH 2 with no evidence of a significant dust source of NH 2 ; however, the higher production rates derived for NH 3 compared to NH 2 on November 19 and 20 remain unexplained. This suggests a more complete analysis that treats NH 2 as a distributed source and accounts for its emission mechanism is needed for future work.

We report the efficiency characteristics of a symmetrically ruled grating in the ± first order with a MgF 2 coating that has been optimized for use at 121.6 nm. The grating is used as a beam splitter and dispersing element in an all-reflective spatial heterodyne spectrometer and therefore must be illuminated at normal incidence. A vector analysis of the performance of the grating indicated that acceptable efficiency of 25% would be achieved in this configuration, a result that was initially confirmed in testing at 7° from normal. However, subsequent testing at normal incidence revealed a sharply peaked anomaly that reduced the efficiency by a factor of 2. This anomaly disappeared after the deposit of a second MgF 2 coating, although this was accompanied by an overall reduction in efficiency. A second, identical grating was obtained and coated with the second MgF 2 recipe. Measurements of this grating show no anomaly at normal incidence and the predicted efficiency at other angles. Here we discuss the characteristics of the anomaly, our steps to address them, and the implications of our findings.

We describe the design, development, and performance of a narrowband, all-reflective, unaliased spatial heterodyne spectrometer (SHS) that has been tested in observations at the focus of the 1.6 m main telescope of the McMath–Pierce solar telescope on Kitt Peak. The all-reflective SHS described herein is a highly robust common-path Fourier transform spectrometer without moving parts that, over a limited spectral region, combines the large field of view and high resolving power characteristic of interference spectrometers but at substantially reduced instrument size and optical tolerances. The self-scanned region of wavelength space and resolving power of the SHS are determined by the beam size, the diffraction grating groove density, the number of detector elements, and the fixed orientation of a set of pilot mirrors. The results presented here represent the first successful implementation of this reflective SHS design for field use. We discuss concepts behind the unaliased reflective SHS design and report the performance of the instrument when used to observe terrestrial airglow and absorption features, the solar spectrum, and the Jovian spectrum near λ=6300 Å, at the achieved resolving power (R=λ/δλ) of R>100,000. The results confirm that reflective SHS instruments can deliver effective interferometric performance in the visible to the far-ultraviolet wavelengths with commercial optics of moderate surface quality.

In this paper we evaluate the possibility of detecting, for the first time, the surface magnetic field of Jupiter (∼1 bar level) by observing the change of linear polarization induced by the Hanle effect on the H Lyman-alpha (Lyα) emission line of the planet. We find that, indeed, the Hanle effect, which results from the interaction between a local magnetic field and the atomic polarization induced by absorption of anisotropic radiation, is sensitive to relatively weak values of the strength of the magnetic fields expected on planets. First, we show that for the Lyα emission backscattered by atomic H in the presence of a magnetic field, the Hanle effect is polarizing. This new result is in total contrast to the depolarizing effect predicted and observed for emission lines scattered at right angles in solar prominences. Additionally, to estimate the polarization rate for the case of Jupiter, we have considered three magnetic field models: a dipole field for reference, an O 4 based model [Connerney, J.E.P., 1981. The magnetic field of Jupiter—A generalized inverse approach. J. Geophys. Res. 86, 7679–7693], and finally, an O 6 based model [Khurana, K.K., 1997. Euler potential models of Jupiter's magnetospheric field. J. Geophys. Res. 102, 11295–11306]. In all models, we show that for the jovian backscattered Lyα line, the Hanle effect does enhance the Lyα linear polarization; the polarization rate may exceed 2% at specific regions of the jovian disc, making detection possible either remotely or from an orbiter around Jupiter. In general, depending on the instrumental sensitivity and the observing strategy used, we show that accurate mapping of the linear polarization rate at the planetary surface (thermosphere) or off-disc (corona) may provide a rather accurate estimate of the jovian total magnetic field strength on large area scales.

We have constructed a concentric-shell, one-dimensional kinetic model that examines the chemistry of hydrogen and oxygen species in detail. We have studied the effects of the reactions of the reactive OH, O( 3 P), and O( 1 D) species with themselves and with the abundant stable molecules in the inner coma of moderately and highly active comets. We find that the reactions (1) Oð 1 DÞþH2O! 2OH and (2) Oð 3 PÞþOH! O2þ Hp lay important roles in the inner comae of active comets. Inclusion of reaction (2) predicts the formation of significant amounts of molecular oxygen. As the densities of O2 may be as high as 1% those of water in some cases, the possibility of detection exists. We suggest the possibility that the ion O þ may contribute to some previously unassigned features in the optical ion-tail spectra of comets. We also consider the role that reactions of the reactive species might play in the destruction of CO, NH3, and organic molecules in the inner coma of the active comet. We find that destruction offormaldehyde, for example, by reaction with OH has a small but essentially negligible effect on the predicted production rate offormaldehyde. Finally, we examine the significance of the reaction of OH with CO in the dense inner coma. Subject headings: astrochemistry — comets: general

We present quantitative measurements of cometary [C I] 9850 A emission obtained during observations of comet Hale-Bopp (C/1995 O1) in 1997 March and April. The observations were carried out using a high-resolution (λ/Δλ ≈ 40,000) Fabry-Perot/CCD spectrometer at the McMath-Pierce Solar telescope on Kitt Peak. This forbidden line, the carbon analog of [O I] 6300 A, is emitted in the radiative decay of C(1D) atoms. In the absence of other sources and sinks, [C I] 9850 A emission can be used as a direct tracer of CO photodissociation in comets. However, in Hale-Bopp's large, dense coma, other processes, such as collisional excitation of ground-state C(3P), dissociative recombination of CO+, and collisional dissociation of CO and CO2 may produce significant amounts of C(1D). The long C(1D) radiative lifetime (~4000 s) makes collisional deexcitation (quenching) the primary loss mechanism in the inner coma. Thus, a detailed, self-consistent global model of collisional and photochemical interactions is necessary to fully account for [C I] 9850 A emission in comet Hale-Bopp.

Observations of OH are a useful proxy of the water production rate (Q(sub H2O)) and outflow velocity (V(sub out)) in comets. We use wide field images taken on 03/28/1997 and 04/08/1997 that capture the entire scale length of the OH coma of comet C/1995O1 (Hale-Bopp) to obtain Q(sub H2O) from the model-independent method of aperture summation. We also extract the radial brightness profile of OH 3080 angstroms out to cometocentric distances of up to 10(exp 6) km using an adaptive ring summation algorithm. Radial profiles are obtained as azimuthal averages and in quadrants covering different position angles relative to the comet-Sun line. These profiles are fit using both fixed and variable velocity two-component spherical expansion models to determine VOH with increasing distance from the nucleus. The OH coma of Hale-Bopp was more spatially extended than in previous comets, and this extension is best matched by a variable acceleration of H2O and OH that acted across the entire coma, but was strongest within 1-2 x 10(exp 4) km from the nucleus. This acceleration led to VOH at 10(exp 6) km that was 2-3 times greater than that obtained from a 1P/Halleytype comet at 1 AU, a result that is consistent with gas-kinetic models, extrapolation from previous observations of OH in comets with Q(sub H2O) > 10(exp 29)/s, and radio measurements of the outer coma Hale-Bopp OH velocity profile. When the coma is broken down by quadrant, we find an azimuthal asymmetry in the radial distribution that is characterized by an increase in the spatial extent of OH in the region between the orbit-trailing and anti-sunward directions. Model fits to this area and comparison with radio OH measurements suggest greater acceleration in this region, with VOH UP to 1.5 times greater at 10(exp 6) km radial distance than elsewhere in the coma.

The University of Wisconsin—Madison and NASA—Goddard conducted a comprehensive multi-wavelength observing campaign of coma emissions from comet Hale-Bopp, including OH 3080 A, [0 I] 6300 A, H2O+ 6158 A, H Balmer-α 6563 A, NH2 6330 A, [C I] 9850 A CN 3879 A, C2 5141 A, C3 4062 A, C I 1657 A, and the UV and optical continua. In this work, we concentrate on the results of the H2O daughter studies. Our wide-field OH 3080 A measured flux agrees with other, similar observations and the expected value calculated from published water production rates using standard H2O and OH photochemistry. However, the total [O I] 6300 A flux determined spectroscopically over a similar field-of-view was a factor of 3 – 4 higher than expected. Narrow-band [O I] images show this excess came from beyond the H2O scale length, suggesting either a previously unknown source of [O I] or an error in the standard OH + v → O(1 D) + H branching ratio. The Hale-Bopp OH and [O I] distributions, both of which were imaged to cometocentric distances > 1 x 106 km, were more spatially extended than those of comet Halley (after correcting for brightness differences), suggesting a higher bulk outflow velocity. Evidence of the driving mechanism for this outflow is found in the Hα line profile, which was narrower than in comet Halley (though likely because of opacity effects, not as narrow as predicted by Monte-Carlo models). This is consistent with greater collisional coupling between the suprathermal H photodissociation products and Hale-Bopp’s dense coma. Presumably because of mass loading of the solar wind by ions and ions by the neutrals, the measured acceleration of H2O+ down the ion tail was much smaller than in comet Halley. Tailward extensions in the azimuthal distributions of OH 3080 A, [O I], and [C I], as well as a Doppler asymmetry in the [O I] line profile, suggest ion-neutral coupling. While the tailward extension in the OH can be explained by increased neutral acceleration, the [O I] 6300 A and [C I] 9850 A emissions show 13% and > 200% excesses in this direction (respectively), suggesting a non-negligible contribution from dissociative recombination of CO+ and/or electron collisional excitation. Thus, models including the effects of photo-and collisional chemistry are necessary for the full interpretation of these data.

The comae of very active comets have a substantially more complex coma than their weaker cousins. The primary cause of this is photolytic heating and collisions that occur over an ever-larger volume of the coma as Q H 2 O increases. Collisions with the photochemical daughters of water in this region modify the radial distributions and outflow velocity of each species, excite and quench metastable emissions, and introduce velocity gradients from photolytic heating. Comet Hale-Bopp was the first comet for which the collisional coma was both spatially resolvable and comparable in extent to the scale lengths of major coma species. In the case of this object, the classical assumptions that make it possible to invert radial emission line profiles, brightnesses, and lineshapes to production rate and velocity either do not hold or require adjustment to work. Here we describe how a large collision zone modifies the coma, how it affects the classical methods for obtaining production rate and velocity, and discuss how wide field imaging may be combined with modified versions of simple models to address the complications and extract some structural information.

Volatile abundances in Jupiter-family Comet 81P/Wild 2 were measured on four dates in February and March 2010 using high-dispersion ( λ Δ λ ∼ 2.5 × 10 4 ) infrared spectroscopy with NIRSPEC at the W.M. Keck Observatory. H 2 O was detected on all dates, including measurements on UT March 29 of lines from the ν 2 + ν 3 − ν 2 hot-band not previously targeted in comets. C 2 H 6 and HCN were detected on three dates, and CH 3 OH was detected on one date. Tentative detections or upper-limits are reported for CH 3 OH on other dates, as well as for C 2 H 2 , H 2 CO, and NH 3 . Abundances of all species relative to H 2 O are in the typical range with the exception of CH 3 OH, which is depleted compared to other comets. Gas production was significantly higher in late February than in late March. Rotational temperatures were determined for H 2 O on UT February 22 and 23 and found to be about 30–40 K. The spatial distributions of H 2 O, C 2 H 6 , and CH 3 OH are all symmetric and similar to the spatial distribution of the dust continuum. H 2 O abundances from this work are compared to other measurements from both the 1997 and 2010 apparitions. There is no clear evidence of a change in overall gas productivity between the two apparitions within measurement accuracy. Abundances of C 2 H 2 , C 2 H 6 , HCN and NH 3 are consistent with these species being the primary parents of C 2 , CN, NH and NH 2 as measured at optical wavelengths. Although optically classified as carbon-chain depleted, Wild 2 appears more chemically similar in parent volatile chemistry to carbon-chain typical comets; however, we note that in the small sample of Jupiter-family comets measured to date, each comet is chemically distinct.

The HYdrogen Polarimetric Explorer (HYPE) is a sounding rocket experiment designed to obtained spectro-polarimetric measurements of diffuse ultraviolet astrophysical objects at high resolving power. HYPE consists of a spatial heterodyne spectrometer and a diamond Brewster - LiF half wave polarimeter and is optimized for study of solar scattering from interplanetary hydrogen penetrating the solar system. We report on the calibration and performance of HYPE in preparation for a first flight of the experiment.