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The 3-13 μm spectra of Deimos and Phobos were obtained on the nights of 2003 August 19, 20, and 21 UT, within a week of opposition (August 28). Spectra in the 1.5-2.5 μm region were taken a few weeks earlier on July 26. Observations were made near greatest elongation for each satellite in order to minimize scattered light from Mars. The L, M, and narrowband N (10.2 μm) magnitudes for Deimos were 7.7 ± 0.1, 4.9 ± 0.1, and 0.79 ± 0.09, respectively. The L, M, and narrowband N (10.2 μm) magnitudes for Phobos were 6.4, 3.8, and -0.52, respectively, all ±0.07. The 5-12 μm color temperatures of Deimos and Phobos were 344 ± 5 and 357 ± 5 K, respectively, significantly higher than the blackbody thermal equilibrium temperature for either a fast rotator at Mars's heliocentric distance (237 K) or a slow rotator (282 K). The high brightness temperatures of Deimos and Phobos in the thermal infrared of 310-330 and 320-340 K, respectively, are not understood, but they are somewhat consistent with the high color temperatures. Within the errors, there was little evidence for spectral features indicative of surface composition, although there were some 1-2 σ variations that warrant further observations.

We present infrared spectroscopic and photometric observations of the nova V2468 Cyg covering the period from 2008 March 13 till 2008 November 11. The JHK spectra of the object have been taken from the Mount Abu Infrared Observatory using the Near-Infrared Imager/Spectrometer. Spectra from 0.8-5.2 micron are also presented that were obtained using the NASA Infrared Telescope Facility and the SPEX instrument. The spectra are dominated by strong H I lines from the Brackett and Paschen series, Fe II, OI and CI lines in the initial days, typical of an Fe II type nova. The lines were broader in the period immediately after outburst with measured FWHM of 1800-2300 km/s for the Pa-beta and Br-gamma lines. These values narrowed to 1500-1600 km/s by 12 days from outburst. The spectra showed prominent He I lines at 1.0830 and 2.0581 micron together with H I and O I emission features after 36 days from outburst. Our IR observations show the comparatively broad emission lines, the rapid development of the spectrum to higher ionization, the early appearance of coronal lines, and the absence of dust emission, all features that indicate the hybrid nature of the nova. This is perhaps the most extensively observed example of a probable Fe IIb type nova at the infrared wavelengths. We also notice a short lived emission line of Fe II at 2.0888 micron which was present between April 9, 2008 to May 9, 2008. No dust emission is seen from the nova ejecta. We have also estimated the range for the ejecta mass in V2468 Cyg to be 3 x 10^{-6} - 10^{-5} Msun., 12 pages, 6 figures, Accepted for publication in AJ

We present new observations of the FUV (1100-2200 Angstrom) radiation field and the near- to mid-IR (3--13.5 micron) spectral energy distribution (SED) of a sample of T Tauri stars selected on the basis of bright molecular disks (GM Aur, DM Tau, LkCa15). In each source we find evidence for Ly alpha induced H2 fluorescence and an additional source of FUV continuum emission below 1700 Angstroms. Comparison of the FUV spectra to a model of H2 excitation suggests that the strong continuum emission is due to electron impact excitation of H2. The ultimate source of this excitation is likely X-ray irradiation which creates hot photo-electrons mixed in the molecular layer. Analysis of the SED of each object finds the presence of inner disk gaps with sizes of a few AU in each of these young (~1 Myr) stellar systems. We propose that the presence of strong H2 continuum emission and inner disk clearing are related by the increased penetration power of high energy photons in gas rich regions with low grain opacity., 5 pages, 3 figures, accepted by ApJ Letters

We report on the results of a number of infrared spectra (0.8-2.5, 2.1-4.6, and 3-14 microns) of V838 Monocerotis, taken from a short time after discovery in 2002 January to about 14 months later, in early 2003. The spectrum evolved dramatically, changing from a quasi-photospheric stellar spectrum with weak atomic emission lines (some with P Cygni profiles) to one showing a wide range of deep absorption features indicative of a cool, extended atmosphere with a circumstellar dust shell. The early spectra showed lines of s-process elements, such as Sr II and Ba I. The later spectra showed absorption by gaseous H2O, CO, AlO, TiO, SiO, SO2, OH, VO, and SH, as well as a complex of emission near 10 microns reminiscent of silicate emission, with a central absorbing feature at 10:3 microns. Thus, V838 Mon appears to be oxygen-rich. A simple, spherically symmetric model of the system involving a central star with a two-component expanding circumstellar shell is presented that is able to explain the major molecular features and spectral energy distribution in the object's late stages. The derived shell mass and distance are 0.04 M(circle dot solar) and 9.2 kpc, respectively.

Infrared spectroscopy of V2274 Cygni (=Nova Cygni 2001 No. 1) is presented for two widely separated epochs, 17 and 370 days after discovery. In addition to the Paschen and Brackett series of H I, the early-time spectrum shows strong emission lines of C I and N I, fluorescently excited lines of O I, and emission from the first overtone of carbon monoxide. Because the initial data were probably acquired no more than 18 days after outburst, CO molecule formation occurred remarkably quickly in the dense, cool, carbon and oxygen rich ejecta. Rapid formation was also seen in NQ Vul, V842 Cen, and V705 Cas, three other novae in which first-overtone CO emission has been detected. Formation of the CO molecule may occur chemically in a process that requires H2 as a precursor or directly through radiative association. The overtone emission of V2274 Cyg indicates a temperature of ~2500 K. The vibrational levels show no obvious departures from thermal equilibrium, which may indicate high optical depths in the fundamental. A large 13C/12C ratio (0.83 ± 0.3) is also indicated by the observations, consistent with the fast CNO burning expected in novae explosions. By the time of the second epoch observations, the emission lines of the neutral C, N, and O had disappeared. He I λ10830 was the dominant emission feature in the spectrum. In addition to the hydrogen lines, recombination features of He II were also strong. The common nebular lines of [S III] were seen but only two coronal line, [S VIII] λ9911 and [Si VI] λ19645, were detected. The CO emission had disappeared, but a strong thermal dust component was present. The interstellar reddening for the system was found to be E(B-V) = 1.3. This extinction, together with the absolute magnitude derived from the rate of decline of the light curve, suggest a distance of ~10.8 kpc. This places V2274 Cyg well out of the Galactic plane. The small number of novae with spectroscopic detections of carbon monoxide all have prominent C I lines, moderate speed classes and ejection velocities, exhibit marked dust formation events, and result from an explosion on a CO-type white dwarf. Based on these similarities, the spectrum of V2274 is proposed as a likely near-infrared spectral template for other novae that display carbon monoxide emission.

Near‐infrared (0.8–2.5 μm) spectrophotometry, acquired on 2002 July 18.25, is presented for the Pluto‐Charon system. The sub‐Earth longitude and latitude of Pluto at the time of the observations were 80° and 28 \documentclass{aastex} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{bm} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{pifont} \usepackage{stmaryrd} \usepackage{textcomp} \usepackage{portland,xspace} \usepackage{amsmath,amsxtra} \usepackage[OT2,OT1]{fontenc} \newcommand\cyr{ \renewcommand\rmdefault{wncyr} \renewcommand\sfdefault{wncyss} \renewcommand\encodingdefault{OT2} \normalfont \selectfont} \DeclareTextFontCommand{\textcyr}{\cyr} \pagestyle{empty} \DeclareMathSizes{10}{9}{7}{6} \begin{document} \landscape $\fdg$\end{document} 5, with a phase angle of 1 \documentclass{aastex} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{bm} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{pifont} \usepackage{stmaryrd} \usepackage{textcomp} \usepackage{portland,xspace} \u...

The near wake vortex flowfield from a NACA0012 half-wing was simulated using a fully unstructured Navier-Stokes flow solver in three dimensions at a chord Reynolds number of 4.6 million and a Mach number of approximately 0.15. Several simulations were performed to examine the effect of boundary conditions, mesh resolution and turbulence scheme on the formation of wingtip vortex and its downstream propagation. The standard Spalart-Allmaras turbulence model was compared with the Dacles-Mariani and Spalart-Shur corrections for rotation and curvature effects. The simulation results were evaluated using the data from experiment performed at NASA Ames' 32in x 48in low speed wind tunnel.

We present a 0.9–2.5 μm spectrum of V445 Puppis obtained about 3 years after maximum brightness. The spectrum shows thermal continuum emission and two narrow, structured emission lines: He I 1.0830 μm and 2.0581 μm. We interpret this to be emission from a hydrogen-deficient, helium-rich, low-temperature nebula surrounded by an optically thick dust shell, probably carbonaceous.

Nova V2362 Cygni has undergone a number of very unusual changes. Ground-based spectroscopy initially revealed a normal sequence of events: the object faded and its near-infrared emission lines gradually shifted to higher excitation conditions until about day 100 when the optical fading reversed and the object slowly brightened. This was accompanied by a rise in the Swift X-ray telescope flux and a sudden shift in excitation of the visible and IR spectrum back to low levels. The new lower excitation spectrum revealed broad line widths and many P-Cygni profiles, all indicative of the ejection of a second shell. Eventually, dust formed, the X-ray brightness—apparently unaffected by dust formation—peaked and then declined, and the object faded at all wavelengths. The Spitzer dust spectra revealed a number of solid-state emission features that, at this time, are not identified.

We report on an unprecedented infrared time series of spectra of V1187 Sco, a very fast ONeMg nova. The observations covered a 56 day period (2004 August 6-September 30) starting 2 days after the nova's peak brightness. Time evolution of the spectra revealed changing line strengths and profiles on timescales of less than a day to weeks as the nova evolved from early postmaximum to early coronal phases. When our ground-based optical and Spitzer Space Telescope data were combined, the wavelength coverage of 0.38-36 μm allowed an accurate spectral energy distribution to be derived when it was about 6 weeks after outburst. Developing double structure in the He I lines showed them changing from narrow to broad in only a few days. Using the O I lines in combination with the optical spectra, we derived a reddening of E(B - V) = 1.56 ± 0.08 and a distance of 4.9 ± 0.5 kpc. Modeling of the ejected material strongly suggested that it was geometrically thick with ΔR/R = 0.8-0.9 (more of a wind than a shell) and a low filling factor of order a few percent. The line shapes were consistent with a cylindrical jet, bipolar, or spherical Hubble flow expansion with a maximum speed of about -3000 km s-1. The central peak appeared to be more associated with the spherical component, while the two peaks (especially in Hβ) suggested a ring with either a lower velocity component or with its axis inclined to the line of sight.

Since the early 1990s, NASA has implemented a number of low‐cost, unmanned space exploration missions including the recent missions associated with the Mars Exploration Program, and also missions in the Discovery and Explorer Programs. This paper addresses a number of the system design and implementation considerations and lessons learned that must be addressed for these missions to be successful, and stresses that effective systems engineering practices must be adopted and applied consistently throughout all mission project phases. Emphasis is placed on highlighting effective approaches that have been successfully used in past programs. These considerations and lessons learned should be considered in formulating effective future technology demonstration and science exploration mission efforts for NASA’s Nuclear Systems Initiative (NSI) and New Frontiers Program.