The orbit and size-frequency distribution of long period comets observed by Pan-STARRS1

Boe, Benjamin; Jedicke, Robert; Meech, К. J.; Wiegert, Paul; Weryk, Robert; Chambers, K.; Denneau, L.; Kaiser, Nick; Kudritzki, Rolf‐Peter; Magnier, E. A.; Wainscoat, R. J.; Waters, C.

doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2019.05.034

Cited by 53 publications

(49 citation statements)

References 88 publications

(140 reference statements)

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“…The resulting cumulative size distribution inferred from the ratio of the number of 250 m objects to 1.5-3 km objects is shown in Figure 7. The slope of the cumulative size distribution is ∼−3.38±1.18, which is comparable to the cumulative size distribution slope of collisionally evolved solar system bodies (Dohnanyi 1969) and comets measured in the kilometer diameter range (Meech & Svoren 2004;Fernández et al 2013;Boe et al 2019a).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 63%

“…The second ISO, 2I, seems on all accounts like an ordinary comet compared to the comets of the solar system, though it is depleted in some chemical species relative to solar system comets (Kareta et al 2020;Opitom et al 2019;Bannister et al 2020) and has an excess of CO (Bodewits et al 2020;Cordiner et al 2020). If it were not for its significantly hyperbolic orbit, 2I probably would not have warranted an in-depth scientific investigation.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Since our photometric light curve suggests that the activity of 2I is partially driven by CO, we expect the mass loss of CO to also be much higher than the mass loss from dust in the ∼10-100 kg s −1 range as it approaches perihelion. The ratio of CO to H 2 O has been shown to be >130%, as revealed by recent Hubble Space Telescope (HST) and Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array observations (Bodewits et al 2020;Cordiner et al 2020), much higher than the typical <30% of solar system comets (Paganini et al 2014;Meech 2017).…”

Section: Long-term Light Curve and Volatile-driven Activitymentioning

confidence: 98%

“…The colors are typical of optically reddish objects containing refractory organics and silicates that become NIR-neutral because of the presence of water ice (Yang et al 2009;Snodgrass et al 2017). Because the flux of 2I is dominated by its coma, as discussed in Section 3.1, we can infer, by analogy with solar system comet spectra, that the 2I NIR spectrum coma dust contains silicates, refractory organics, and water ice (Protopapa et al 2014;Bockelée-Morvan et al 2017), though recent observations suggest that the main driver of the activity is CO and is likely responsible for driving the dust production (Bodewits et al 2020).…”

Section: Nir Photometry and Spectrummentioning

confidence: 99%

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Characterization of the Nucleus, Morphology, and Activity of Interstellar Comet 2I/Borisov by Optical and Near-infrared GROWTH, Apache Point, IRTF, ZTF, and Keck Observations

Bolin

Lisse

Kasliwal

et al. 2020

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We present visible and near-infrared (NIR) photometric and spectroscopic observations of interstellar object (ISO) 2I/Borisov taken from 2019 September 10 to 2019 December 20 using the GROWTH, the Apache Point Observatory Astrophysical Research Consortium 3.5 m, and the NASA Infrared Telescope Facility 3.0 m combined with pre-and postdiscovery observations of 2I obtained by the Zwicky Transient Facility from 2019 March 17 to 2019 May 5. Comparison with imaging of distant solar system comets shows an object very similar to mildly active solar system comets with an outgassing rate of ∼10 27 mol s −1. The photometry, taken in filters spanning the visible and NIR range, shows a gradual brightening trend of ∼0.03 mag day −1 since 2019 September 10 UTC for a reddish object becoming neutral in the NIR. The light curve from recent and prediscovery data reveals a brightness trend suggesting the recent onset of significant H 2 O sublimation with the comet being active with super volatiles such as CO at heliocentric distances >6 au consistent with its extended morphology. Using the

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 63%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Long-term Light Curve and Volatile-driven Activitymentioning

confidence: 98%

Section: Nir Photometry and Spectrummentioning

confidence: 99%

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Characterization of the Nucleus, Morphology, and Activity of Interstellar Comet 2I/Borisov by Optical and Near-infrared GROWTH, Apache Point, IRTF, ZTF, and Keck Observations

Bolin

Lisse

Kasliwal

et al. 2020

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“…Evidently, the extended coma and the broad tail stand in stark contrast with the purely asteroidal appearance of 'Oumuamua. The estimated nucleus size is common among Solar System's comets 22,23 . Adopting the formalism of rotational disruption probability 24 and assuming typical properties of Solar System comets, we have estimated the probability of rotational disruption during the Solar System flyby to be smaller than 1% (see Methods).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Initial characterization of interstellar comet 2I/Borisov

et al. 2019

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Interstellar comets penetrating through the Solar System had been anticipated for decades 1,2 . The discovery of asteroidal-looking 'Oumuamua 3,4 was thus a huge surprise and a puzzle. Furthermore, the physical properties of the 'first scout' turned out to be impossible to reconcile with Solar System objects 4-6 , challenging our view of interstellar minor bodies 7,8 . Here, we report the identification and early characterization of a new interstellar object, which has an evidently cometary appearance. The body was discovered by Gennady Borisov on 30 August 2019 UT and subsequently identified as hyperbolic by our data mining code in publicly available astrometric data. The initial orbital solution implies a very high hyperbolic excess speed of ~32 km s −1 , consistent with 'Oumuamua 9 and theoretical predictions 2,7 . Images taken on 10 and 13 September 2019 UT with the William Herschel Telescope and Gemini North Telescope show an extended coma and a faint, broad tail. We measure a slightly reddish colour with a g′-r′ colour index of 0.66 ± 0.01 mag, compatible with Solar System comets. The observed morphology is also unremarkable and best explained by dust with a power-law sizedistribution index of -3.7 ± 1.8 and a low ejection speed (44 ± 14 m s −1 for β = 1 particles, where β is the ratio of the solar gravitational attraction to the solar radiation pressure).The nucleus is probably ~1 km in radius, again a common value among Solar System comets, and has a negligible chance of experiencing rotational disruption. Based on these early characteristics, and putting its hyperbolic orbit aside, 2I/Borisov appears indistinguishable from the native Solar System comets.

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Comet Interceptor Mission

Jones

Snodgrass

Tubiana

et al. 2021

Encyclopedia of Astrobiology

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Here we describe the novel, multi-point Comet Interceptor mission. It is dedicated to the exploration of a little-processed long-period comet, possibly entering the inner Solar System for the first time, or to encounter an interstellar object originating at another star. The objectives of the mission are to address the following questions: What are the surface composition, shape, morphology, and structure of the target object? What is the composition of the gas and dust in the coma, its connection to the nucleus, and the nature of its interaction with the solar wind? The mission was proposed to the European Space Agency in 2018, and formally adopted by the agency in June 2022, for launch in 2029 together with the Ariel mission. Comet Interceptor will take advantage of the opportunity presented by ESA's F-Class call for fast, flexible, low-cost missions to which it was proposed. The call required a launch to a halo orbit around the Sun-Earth L2 point. The mission can take advantage of this placement to wait for the discovery of a suitable comet reachable with its minimum ΔV capability of 600 ms −1 . Comet Interceptor will be unique in encountering and studying, at a nominal closest approach distance of 1000 km, a comet that represents a near-pristine sample of material from the formation of the Solar System. It will also add a capability that no previous cometary mission has had, which is to deploy two sub-probes -B1, provided by the Japanese space agency, JAXA, and B2 -that will follow different trajectories through the coma. While the main probe passes at a nominal 1000 km distance, probes B1 and B2 will follow different chords through the coma at distances of 850 km and 400 km, respectively. The result will be unique, simultaneous, spatially resolved information of the 3-dimensional properties of the target comet and its interaction with the space environment. We present the mission's science background leading to these objectives, as well as an overview of the scientific instruments, mission design, and schedule.

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The orbit and size-frequency distribution of long period comets observed by Pan-STARRS1

Cited by 53 publications

References 88 publications

Characterization of the Nucleus, Morphology, and Activity of Interstellar Comet 2I/Borisov by Optical and Near-infrared GROWTH, Apache Point, IRTF, ZTF, and Keck Observations

Characterization of the Nucleus, Morphology, and Activity of Interstellar Comet 2I/Borisov by Optical and Near-infrared GROWTH, Apache Point, IRTF, ZTF, and Keck Observations

Initial characterization of interstellar comet 2I/Borisov

Comet Interceptor Mission

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