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At least 973 records · Page 54
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1985

Interstellar absorption features toward the compact infrared source W33A

A high-resolution (lambda/Delta lambda of approximately 2000) broad-bandwidth (3.3-5.0 microns) spectrum of the compact infrared source W33A is presented. Four absorption features are associated with compositionally distinct components in the interstellar medium: solid-phase C3, CN, or CH3OH at 4.9 microns, solid-phase CO and either solid or gaseous CH3NC near 4.6 microns and the well-known dirty ice feature near 3 microns. The analysis of this spectrum supports chemically complex models of grain mantle evolution in cold, quiescent molecular clouds.

Larson, H. P.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Spectral measurement of the Space Shuttle leeside shock layer and wake

Leeside shock layer and wake spectral radiation measured during the high altitude portion of the reentry of Space Shuttle Orbiter STS 51-D are presented and are compared with similar measurements obtained in an arc jet tunnel. The spectra, measured with a low-resolution spectral camera, are compared in order to identify the radiating species in a wavelength range from 4000 to 8000 angstroms. Emissions identified are: N2 first positive and N2 second positive systems, the N2(+) first negative system, and the sodium-D lines. No atomic air species or CN are observed. The spectra and procedure will be of use in comparison of flight flowfield properties with computational predictions and for guidance in developing future flight experiments.

Blackwell, H. E.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Planetary spectroscopy

Infrared spectroscopic studies of the solar system in support of spacecraft investigations were researched. The studies include the physical behavior of comets, the atmospheres of the gaseous planets, and the solid surfaces of satellites and asteroids. Studies of the gaseous and solid emanations of comets using the techniques of CCD spectroscopy and imaging were focused on. An intensive observational effort was mounted, to observe comet Halley with the recently developed state of the art CCD camera system. Comet P/Giacobini-Zinner was observed. The major emphasis was placed on spectroscopy and a synoptic spectrum at least once a month was obtained. A large number of images of Halley for particular emission species and continuum regions were also obtained. The species in vestigated were: C3 (4060 A), CO+ (4505), C2 (5139), NH2 (5980), H2O+ (6185), OI (6300) and CN (9180).

Fink, U.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Cometary spectroscopy

The spectroscopic and morphological characteristics of comets over a wide range of heliocentric distances are investigated as they may suggest or constrain models of cometary formation environments and evolution. This program also contributes to the understanding of the general comet population with which spacecraft data will be compared. Long slit spectra and direct images of all observable comets (M2<18) are obtained on a monthly basis with either a UV sensitive microchannel plate or a red sensitive CCD spectrograph/camera. Scale lengths of the principal emission of OH, NH, CN, C3, C2, NH2 and OI different comets can be compared. The direct images are used for studies of dust anisotropy which can provide data on the spin vector and gross surface morphology.

Larson, S.↗
NASA NTRS1986

The ultraviolet lines of carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen in the IUE spectrum of the field horizontal-branch A star HD 109995

Photospheric abundances of C, N and O of an evolved halo Population 2 star, the field horizontal-branch star HD 109995, based on observations of ultraviolet resonance or low excitation lines are presented. The logarithmic abundance ratio with respect to the Sun O/Fe = +1.5 is substantially higher than previously determined values for Pop. 2 red giants or RR Lyrae stars, but agrees well with a derived value from the OI infrared triplet. This may be direct evidence of Tinsley's (1979) scenario of localized sharply rising interstellar oxygen abundances immediately following bursts of massive star formation. Star HD 109995 may have formed from such highly oxygen-enriched material prior to its dilution by gas with the pre-burst composition. The ratio C/N = -1.3 may reflect the composition of material from which the star formed or CN processing within the star during its evolution.

Leckrone, David S.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Spectrophotometric observations of Comet Halley

Comet Halley was observed using an intensified dissector scanner spectrograph on the 2.7 m telescope at McDonald Observatory from Dec. 1984 through June 1986. Molecular emissions were first detected in February 1985 when CN was observed. Spatial maps probing different regions of the coma were made starting in November 1985. Haser model production rates were computed for each night's data. The brightness of Halley, and therefore the production rates, are variable on timescales of a day, with variations of a magnitude or more in this time period. Nonequilibrium chemical models were calculated using Giotto and Vega data as constraints and inputs. The variability of Halley cannot be explained solely by water sublimation, nor do the variations show the 52 to 53 hr period of rotation.

Cochran, A. L.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Gaseous jets in Comet P/Halley

Properties of the gas jets in P/Halley reported to exist in images taken in the light of CN are described. The jets also exist in the light of other radicals, specifically C2. The jets do not exist in the continuum images although it appears that one of the jets seen may come from the same area on the nucleus that produces much of the dust. The jets are seen to persist, although with varying geometry, for 2 months or more, from the time of the spacecraft encounters in March to the beginning of May. The strength of the jets is well correlated with fluctuations in the overall production rate of radicals by the comet.

Ahearn, Michael F.↗
NASA NTRS1986

The variability of Halley's Comet during the Vega, Planet-A, and Giotto encounters

Narrowband photometry of Halley obtained at Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory (CTIO), Mauna Kea Observatory (MKO), and Perth Observatory was combined to determine the relative level of activity during the interval spanning the spacecraft encounters. Measurements of the flux from the comet in emission bands of OH, NH, CN, C3, and C2, as well as at 2 continuum points, were obtained at CTIO on each night between 5 March and 17 March 1986. Observations were made on many of these same dates at MKO and Perth using comparable interference filters. The date clearly show variation of a factor of 2.5 in the production of all observed species with a characteristic time scale of a few days.

Schleicher, D. G.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Dust environment of Comet Halley

Advances in the understanding of comet Halley's dust environment are highlighted. Spacecraft results on the dust composition, the detection of subfemtogram grains, and the particle-mass distribution; jets and the dust-emission pattern; the existence of discrete sources on the nucleus surface and the determination of their locations from day-to-day motions of coma features; CN jets; large-scale phenomena, including an antitail, streamers, and a sunward spike; infrared observations, such as the 3.4 microns emission feature, applications of array detectors, and rare far-infrared data; the chemical modification of low-temperature ices by UV and cosmic-ray irradiation processes, their laboratory simulations, and applications to the evolution of comets; the interstellar-connection models of comet origin; and the formation of a mantle made of refractory organic material on the nucleus surface.

Sekanina, Z.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Comet Halley near-nucleus phenomena in 1986

Computer enhanced high resolution groundbased images taken during Halley's most active phases in 1985-86 exhibit all of the coma structures identified in 1910 photographs. The structures result mostly from discrete dust jet activity producing spirals, arcs, and jagged-edged envelopes. Multiple nucleus and antisunward jet phenomena are also observed. The curvature of the jets is consistent with the location of the Earth with respect to the nucleus equatorial plane. The variation in jet activity during the Vega and Giotto flybys is easily seen on the groundbased images. Images of CN jets show that they usually do not correlate with dust jets. Wide field, medium resolution images of faint outer envelopes are required to augment the smaller field, high resolution images of near-nucleus jets in modeling the jets.

Larson, S.↗
NASA NTRS1986

The spectral development of Comet P/Halley from August 1985 to June 1986

Spectra of comet Halley were obtained every month from 1985 Aug. to 1986 June, from 5200 to 10,400 A at a spectral resolution of 12 A. Spatial extent is 200" along the slit. A variety of spatially resolved spectra with the slit along the tail and perpendicular to the tail were recorded. Emission species observed are C2, CN, NH2, H2O(+), (OI) and NaI. The 2-0 C2 Phillips band is detected at 8750 A, and from its intensity ratio of 1/9 to the 0-1 Swan band a preliminary C2 singlet to triplet intercombination probability of less than 10 to the minus 7th power is derived. Sodium emission is observed stongly only in 1986 Mar. data.

Fink, Uwe↗
NASA NTRS1986

Photoelectric photometry of Comet P/Halley from Mauna Kea Observatory

A program of photoelectric photometry of comet Halley yielded 60 nights of usable photometry. The uncertainty in the photometry in all filters except OH is better than 2%. Throughout the apparition, the comet is brightest in the filters that isolated the neutral gas emission features of OH, CN, C2, and C3. The fluxes in the filters that isolated the ionic emission features of CO(+) and H2O(+) are comparable to the continuum when centered upon the optocenter, thereby making the ionic emission weak to undetectable above the continuum. The continuum colors do not appear to be a function of phase angle; therefore, the colors are probably indicative of dust grain composition and are not dominated by scattering geometry effects.

Piscitelli, J. R.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Photometric and spectrophotometric activity of P/Halley during 1984-85

Imaging and spectroscopic observations of P/Halley were performed during 1984 and 1985 using a CCD camera and an Image Dissector Scanner Spectrograph, and the results are reported. P/Halley activity appears to begin around 6.23 AU and varies as r exp -5.3 for heliocentric distances between 5.8 and 4.2 AU. The observed radial brightness distribution falls off much faster than the inverse of the projected distance from the nucleus, indicating that the particles are disappearing or evaporating within about 20,000 km of the nucleus. Weak CN emission was detected in spectra obtained during February 1985, corresponding to a column density of 3 x 10 to the 8th molecules/sq cm. The spectroscopic results indicate that the excess of the observed emission over that from the bare nucleus is dominated by scattered solar continuum from grains, rather than by molecular coma emissions.

Barker, E. S.↗
NASA NTRS1986

The historical record for Sirius - Evidence for a white-dwarf thermonuclear runaway?

Evidence was recently presented that in medieval times Sirius was a bright red star, rather than the present bluish-white star. Here, the results of attempts to detect possible planetary nebula ejecta toward Sirius using data obtained by the IUE are presented. Based on these results and in the light of recent advances in understanding white-dwarf evolution, it is proposed that Sirius B underwent a recent thermonuclear runaway event triggered by a diffusion-induced CN reaction.

Bruhweiler, Frederick C.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Comet Giacobini-Zinner - A normal comet?

Observations of Comet Giacobini-Zinner were obtained during its 1985 apparition using an IDS spectrograph at McDonald Observatory. Column densities and production rates were computed. The production rates were compared to observations of other 'normal' comets. Giacobini-Zinner is shown to be depleted in C2 and C3 relative to CN. These production rates are down by a factor of 5.

Cochran, Anita L.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Ion composition and upstream solar wind observations at comet Giacobini-Zinner

The observations by the ion composition instrument (ICI) on the ICE spacecraft made during the encounter with comet P/Giacobini-Zinner (Ogilvie et al., 1986) are discussed in detail. Solar wind He-4(2+) kinetic temperatures, densities, and velocities before, during, and after the encounter are presented. These data combined with He-4(2+) velocity distributions provide evidence for the existence of a thick diffuse shock. Relative abundances of water group ions and CO(+) are derived along with an estimate of the abundance of an ion with M/Q = 24 + or - 1 amu/e. The ICI data are compared with electron data from two other experiments (Bame et al., 1986; Meyer-Vernet et al., 1986) and found to be in reasonable agreement in the region outside the tail. Spectroscopic data for several neutral and ionic species are compared with the ICI results for the water group ions and CO(+). The spectroscopic data are also used to eliminate Mg(+) and CN(+) as candidates for the M/Q = 24 peak. The two most likely candidates are C2(+) and Na(+), but neither photoionization of parent neutrals nor sputtering from dust grains is sufficient to explain the observed abundance relative to H2O(+).

Coplan, M. A.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Rotational period of comet Halley

Results are reported from ground-based photometric measurements of the variations in Comet Halley emissions at different wavelengths in order to calculate the comet rotation rate. The data, gathered at Cerro Tololo, included the OH, NH, CN, C3, CO(+) and C2 bands and continuum emissions at 3650 and 4845 A. Emphasis is placed on the C2 data at 5140 A. Both a periodic variation and a secular decrease was detected through March-April 1986. Light curves generated with the data support a rotational period just short of 7.4 days.

Millis, R. L.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Spectrophotometry of comets Giacobini-Zinner and Halley

Optical window spectrophotometry was performed on comets Giacobini-Zinner and Halley over the interval 300-1000 nm. Band and band-sequence fluxes were obtained for the brightest features of OH, CN, NH, and C2, special care having been given to determinations of extinction, instrumental sensitivities, and corrections for Fraunhofer lines. C2 Swan band-sequence flux ratios were determined with unprecedented accuracy and compared with the predictions of the detailed equilibrium models of Krishna Swamy et al. (1977, 1979, 1981, and 1987). It is found that these band sequences do not agree with the predictions, which calls into question the assumptions made in deriving the model, namely resonance fluorescence statistical equilibrium. Suggestions are made as to how to resolve this discrepancy.

Tegler, Stephen C.↗