Gemini-N (+MICHELLE) 11.6 micron image of comet 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 3 fragmet B obtained on 29 Apr 2006 rh=1.11AU, ∆=0.154AU. The peak isophote represents 17.4 mJy; the ratio between isophotes is sqrt(2). The spatial scale is 1828x1828 km. Adopted from Harker et al. (2011)
Introduction
Comets are the frozen reservoirs from the earliest epoch of planetesimal formation. They are the time capsules of materials resulting from the earliest processes in the young solar nebula disk that led to the formation of the planets we know today. Unlocking the content of the dust in comets gives us insight into how planets, including Earth, were formed billions of years ago. Below is a brief synopsis of my research projects concerning the comae of comets.
Contents
Ground-based Observations of Comets
My first observation of a comet in the mid-infrared (mid-IR) was comet C/1995 O1 (Hale-Bopp) using HIFOGS on the 2.3m Wyoming Infrared Observatory. Hale-Bopp became the primary target of my Ph.D dissertation. Over subsequent years, I have observed many other comets from many telescopes in an effort to study comet dust and constrain solar nebula models. Thermal modeling of mid-IR spectra from comets probes the composition and structure of comet grains. Observing comets in the 8-13 micron region (and the 17-24 micron region when possible) reveals information about the mineralogy and morphology of the dust grains in the comae.
Master ListLIST IS HERE password protected
Work in Progress:
C/2009 P1 (Garradd) password protected
103P/Hartley 2 (EPOXI Target) password protected
Analysis Completed:
73P/Schwassman-Wachmann 3
9P/Tempel 1 (DEEP IMPACT Target)
C/1995 O1 (Hale-Bopp)
Spitzer Observations of Comets
During the cold mission of the Spitzer Space Telescope, we observed a great number of comets. Analysis is ongoing and data will be made available when ready.
Work in Progress:Emerging Comets from Protoplanetary Processes Currently password protected. Will be released to the public when ready.
Comet Survey Coming Soon!
Announcements
In this section I archive any announcements that were on the main page at some point.
Recent Posts
252P/LINEAR (2016)
Comet 252P/LINEAR imaged by Jean-Francois Soulier on March 14, 2016.
Mar 28, 2016: A short period comet that went into outburst and is now visible to the naked eye. Will probably start to dim very quickly.
Comet C/2013 US10 (Catalina)
Comet US10 Catalina imaged by Jean-Francois Soulier on December 19, 2014.
Mar 25, 2015: A potentially naked eye comet by the end of 2015. Perihelion is Nov 15, 2015.
Rosetta Mission
Check out my blog page for links to my posts at the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center web site concerning the Rosetta Mission rendezvous with comet 67P/Churymov-Gerasimenko.
Mar 25, 2015: For the first time ever, molecular hydrogen has been discovered in a comet!
Older Posts
Comet C/2012 K1 (PanSTARRS)
Comet K1 PanSTARRS imaged by Jean-Francois Soulier on March 20, 2014.
Apr 28, 2014: It's not the comet of the century, but comet C/2012 K1 PanSTARRS should become bright enough for comet observers to study its gas and dust properties. The comet reaches perihelion on August 27, 2014.
Comet ISON is coming in 2013!
Comet ISON as imaged by Hubble in May 2013
Comet C/2012 S1 (ISON) is expected to be visible during the latter part of 2013. It will hopefully become bright enough to see with the naked eye.
Aug 2, 2013: NASA has an ISON Toolkit set up to show the massive campaign being assembled to observe this potentially exciting comet.
July 2013: Mike Kelley has a great blog posting talking about comet ISON. Head over to his blog to get some good information on the comet's activity, meteoroid stream, and orbit.