Physical and compositional studies of Comet 81P/Wild 2 at multiple apparitions

Farnham, T. L.; Schleicher, D. G.

doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2004.08.021

Cited by 66 publications

(83 citation statements)

References 33 publications

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“…Although they appear to be large error bars, they have the same order of magnitude as found in previous analogous studies (e.g. Schulz et al 2003;Farnham & Schleicher 2005). Our February-June data give a moderately reddened dust, with a normalized color ∼6-9%.…”

Section: Datesupporting

confidence: 85%

“…Similar findings were presented in Farnham & Schleicher (2005). These authors also reported the sunward primary fan, which was characterized by small changes on monthly time scale starting from February 1997.…”

Section: Coma Structuressupporting

confidence: 81%

“…Coma structures were already reported in the 1996/1997 perihelion passage by Schulz et al (2003) and Farnham & Schleicher (2005). Schulz et al (2003) observed a strong sunward fan and an anti-solar tail already in September-December 1996, a few months before the perihelion in May 1997.…”

Section: Coma Structuresmentioning

confidence: 58%

“…For this purpose we considered the findings of A 'Hearn et al (1995), Fink & Hicks (1996), Hanner & Hayward (2003), Schulz et al (2003), Sekanina (2003), Farnham & Schleicher (2005), and Hadamcik & LevasseurRegourd (2009). A'Hearn et al (1995 summarized the results of narrowband photometric data of 85 comets between 1976 and 1992.…”

Section: Comparison With Previous Perihelion Passagesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…To support the Stardust mission, 81P was the target of an extensive observational campaign before the spacecraft encounter, which made this object one of the best-known comets in science (Fink et al 1999;Mäkinen et al 2001;Hanner & Hayward 2003;Ishiguro et al 2003;Schulz et al 2003;Sekanina 2003;Farnham & Schleicher 2005;Ferrín 2007).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Photometric observations of comet 81P/Wild 2 during the 2010 perihelion passage

Bertini

Barbieri

et al. 2012

A&A

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Context. The Jupiter-family comet 81P/Wild 2, target of the NASA Stardust mission, is very important in the context of the studies of pristine objects in the solar system. First, it was only recently deflected into the present orbit, having spent at least 300 yr at higher heliocentric distance prior to the orbital change in 1974. It is therefore likely that the comet experienced a recent activation with consequent low alteration of its original material. Second, it is the only comet whose coma material was brought back to Earth for laboratory analysis. We observed the object between 2010 February 9 and September 9 for a total of 11 nights during the 2010 perihelion passage. Aims. The goals of the campaign were the characterization of the comet's dust activity and the comparison with previous apparitions to derive hints on the secular behavior of the object. Methods. Broadband R-and I-images were acquired using three instruments: ALFOSC, CAMELOT, and TCP. The first one is mounted at the Nordic Optical Telescope on La Palma, while the second and the third are mounted at the Instituto de Astrofisica de Canarias 0.82-m telescope on Tenerife. We analyzed the presence and variability of dust structures in the coma with image-enhancing techniques, the radial profile of the dust brightness, and we measured the dust production rate and the dust reddening. Results. We found evidence of a long-lasting sunward fan and anti-solar tail activity throughout all our observations up to a heliocentric distance of 2.42 AU. A f ρ measurements suggest a pre-perihelion peak of the activity, caused by a seasonal effect, plus two post-perihelion outbursts. Both spatial and A f ρ radial profiles indicate a steady-state coma at nucleocentric distances greater than ∼1000-2000 km. The color analysis reveals a moderately reddened dust with a 6-9%/1000 Å reddening, consistent with the current picture of cometary dust. The second outburst emitted dust with lower reddening. Conclusions. The comparison with previous perihelion passages points toward a recurrent main activity always driven by the same areas on the nucleus, producing dust with similar characteristics and in similar coma structures in different years. Our A f ρ measurement at the longest heliocentric distance suggests the comet was less dust-productive in 2010, pointing toward a possible secular aging of the object and its activity. The change of dust colors during the unusual second outburst suggests that an internal part of the nucleus has different physical properties compared with those that produce the recurrent main activity, pointing toward a heterogeneous comet.

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Section: Datesupporting

confidence: 85%

Section: Coma Structuressupporting

confidence: 81%