Comet Hale-Bopp (C/1995 O1): UVSTAR-FUV spectroscopy from the space shuttle
Year: 2006
Authors: Cosmovici C.B., Bratina V., Schwarz G., Tozzi G., Mumma M.J., Stalio R.
Autors Affiliation: Istituto di Fisica dello Spazio Interplanetario, INAF, 100 Fosso del Cavaliere, Rome, Italy; C.A.R.S.O, Area di Ricerca, Trieste, Italy; CNR-INOA, l.go Fermi 6, 50125 Firenze, Italy; DLR, 82230 Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany; Osservatorio di Arcetri, Firenze, Italy; Laboratory for Extraterrestrial Physics, Code 690, NASA\’s Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD, United States
Abstract: We report here on unique post-perihelion (2.3 AU) measurements of Comet Hale-Bopp in the FUV-range (950-1250 Å) by means of the UVSTAR spectrometer from the space shuttle with the main purpose of searching for argon and other FUV emitters. New methods for separating the strong airglow emission at shuttle altitudes are here discussed in detail. Due to our low resolution (15 Å) and S/N ratio the possible rocket-borne detection of argon near perihelion (0.9 AU) could not be confirmed. New species as N 2 are suspected but difficult to separate from the strong airglow emission at shuttle altitudes. From the Lya brightness (1.30± 0.08 kRy) a water production rate Q = 5.9 ± 0.4 × 1029 molecules s-1 could be derived and compared with other post-perihelion observations.
Journal/Review: ASTROPHYSICS AND SPACE SCIENCE
Volume: 301 (1-4) Pages from: 135 to: 143
KeyWords: Airglow; Comet Hale-Bopp; FUV spectroscopy; Space shuttleDOI: 10.1007/s10509-006-0180-zImpactFactor: 0.771Connecting to view paper tab on IsiWeb: Click here
