Back to Search
Start Over
Characterization of the Nucleus, Morphology, and Activity of Interstellar Comet 2I/Borisov by Optical and Near-infrared GROWTH, Apache Point, IRTF, ZTF, and Keck Observations
- Source :
- Astron.J., Astron.J., 2020, 160 (1), pp.26. ⟨10.3847/1538-3881/ab9305⟩, Astronomical Journal, 160, 1, pp. 1-16, Astronomical Journal, 160, 1-16
- Publication Year :
- 2020
- Publisher :
- HAL CCSD, 2020.
-
Abstract
- We present visible and near-infrared photometric and spectroscopic observations of interstellar object 2I/Borisov taken from 2019 September 10 to 2019 November 29 using the GROWTH, the APO ARC 3.5 m and the NASA/IRTF 3.0 m combined with post and pre-discovery observations of 2I obtained by ZTF from 2019 March 17 to 2019 May 5. Comparison with imaging of distant Solar System comets shows an object very similar to mildly active Solar System comets with an out-gassing rate of $\sim$10$^{27}$ mol/sec. The photometry, taken in filters spanning the visible and NIR range shows a gradual brightening trend of $\sim0.03$ mags/day since 2019 September 10 UTC for a reddish object becoming neutral in the NIR. The lightcurve from recent and pre-discovery data reveals a brightness trend suggesting the recent onset of significant H$_2$O sublimation with the comet being active with super volatiles such as CO at heliocentric distances $>$6 au consistent with its extended morphology. Using the advanced capability to significantly reduce the scattered light from the coma enabled by high-resolution NIR images from Keck adaptive optics taken on 2019 October 04, we estimate a diameter of 2I's nucleus of $\lesssim$1.4 km. We use the size estimates of 1I/'Oumuamua and 2I/Borisov to roughly estimate the slope of the ISO size-distribution resulting in a slope of $\sim$3.4$\pm$1.2, similar to Solar System comets and bodies produced from collisional equilibrium.<br />22 pages, 7 figures, 1 table. Accepted for publication in AJ on 12 May 2020
- Subjects :
- Earth and Planetary Astrophysics (astro-ph.EP)
Physics
[PHYS]Physics [physics]
Solar System
Brightness
010504 meteorology & atmospheric sciences
Astronomy
Near-infrared spectroscopy
Comet
Infrared telescope
FOS: Physical sciences
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
Light curve
01 natural sciences
Photometry (optics)
13. Climate action
Space and Planetary Science
Interstellar comet
0103 physical sciences
010303 astronomy & astrophysics
Astrophysics - Earth and Planetary Astrophysics
0105 earth and related environmental sciences
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 00046256
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Astron.J., Astron.J., 2020, 160 (1), pp.26. ⟨10.3847/1538-3881/ab9305⟩, Astronomical Journal, 160, 1, pp. 1-16, Astronomical Journal, 160, 1-16
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....7525af7b9a489566758fa1483017716a