Description

The 3-5 micron spectral region contains fundamental ro-vibrational bands of key molecules comprising the volatile (icy) component of the nuclei of comets. Using modern infrared echelle spectrometers at world class observatories permits direct measure of the volatile component of comets. These instruments combine long-silt coverage with sensitive array detectors having small pixels. This is necessary for discriminating between release of volatiles directly from the nucleus, as opposed to release from one or more sources in the cometary atmosphere (coma). Because the ices are most sensitive to heating, their study provides clues to conditions prevalent in the early solar system and comets contain the best-preserved remnant material from this epoch. Since 1996, we have measured abundances of seven native ices (water, carbon monoxide, methyl alcohol, ethane, methane, hydrogen cyanide, and acetylene) in eight long-period comets, and have measured additional molecules (formaldehyde, ammonia, and carbonyl sulfide) in some of these comets. We will be targeting two long-period comets and four short-period comets over the next three years, and we expect additional long-period comets to become available for study, as these are being discovered (or recovered) at a significant rate through observational survey programs as well as by amateur observers.
Location:
Goddard Space Flight Center
Greenbelt, Maryland
Field of Science:Planetary Science
Advisors:
Michael DiSanti
Michael.A.DiSanti@nasa.gov
301-286-7036

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