The persistent activity of Jupiter-family comets at 3–7AU

Kelley, Michael S. P.; Fernández, Y. R.; Licandro, J.; Lisse, C. M.; Reach, W. T.; A’Hearn, Michael F.; Bauer, J. M.; Campins, H.; Fitzsimmons, A.; Groussin, O.; Lamy, Philippe; Lowry, S. C.; Meech, К. J.; Pittichová, J.; Snodgrass, C.; Tóth, I.; Weaver, Harold A.

doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2013.04.012

Cited by 41 publications

(47 citation statements)

References 64 publications

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“…A f ρ is larger at a given distance post-perihelion than it is pre-perihelion, consistent with the slight offset in the brightness peak and also with the observed tendency of comets to remain active to larger distances outbound (e.g. Kelley et al 2013). All measurements are consistent with single power-law fits pre-and post-perihelion, given by…”

Section: Dust Productionsupporting

confidence: 85%

Beginning of activity in 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko and predictions for 2014–2015

Snodgrass

Tubiana

Bramich

et al. 2013

A&A

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Context. Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko was selected in 2003 as the new target of the Rosetta mission. It has since been the subject of a detailed campaign of observations to characterise its nucleus and activity. Aims. Here we present previously unpublished data taken around the start of activity of the comet in 2007/8, before its last perihelion passage. We constrain the time of the start of activity, and combine this with other data taken throughout the comet's orbit to make predictions for its likely behaviour during 2014/5 while Rosetta is operating. Methods. A considerable difficulty in observing 67P during the past years has been its position against crowded fields towards the Galactic centre for much of the time. The 2007/8 data presented here were particularly difficult, and the comet will once again be badly placed for Earth-based observations in 2014/5. We make use of the difference image analysis (DIA) technique, which is commonly used in variable star and exoplanet research, to remove background sources and extract images of the comet. In addition, we reprocess a large quantity of archival images of 67P covering its full orbit, to produce a heliocentric lightcurve. By using consistent reduction, measurement and calibration techniques we generate a remarkably clean lightcurve, which can be used to measure a brightnessdistance relationship and to predict the future brightness of the comet. Results. We determine that the comet was active around November 2007, at a pre-perihelion distance from the Sun of 4.3 AU. The comet will reach this distance, and probably become active again, in March 2014. We find that the dust brightness can be well described by A f ρ ∝ r −3.2 pre-perihelion and ∝ r −3.4 post-perihelion, and that the comet has a higher dust-to-gas ratio than average, with log(A f ρ/Q(H 2 O)) = −24.94 ± 0.22 cm s molecule −1 at r < 2 AU. A model fit to the photometric data suggests that only a small fraction (1.4%) of the surface is active.

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Section: Dust Productionsupporting

confidence: 85%

Beginning of activity in 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko and predictions for 2014–2015

Snodgrass

Tubiana

Bramich

et al. 2013

A&A

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“…In the latter case, sublimation erosion process driven by more volatile ices such as CO and CO 2 could be important. As shown in Kelley et al (2013), presistent coma activity of a number of JFCs at 3-7 au beyond the water snow line was detected by the Spitzer space telescope. Such outgassing phenomena must have been driven by the sublimation of super-volatile ices.…”

Section: Discussion and Summarymentioning

confidence: 88%

Physical properties and dynamical relation of the circular depressions on comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko

Lai

Lee

et al. 2016

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Aims. We aim to characterize the circular depressions of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko and investigate whether such surface morphology of a comet nucleus is related to the cumulative sublimation effect since becoming a Jupiter family comet (JFC). Methods. The images from the Rosetta/OSIRIS science camera experiment are used to construct size frequency distributions of the circular depression structures on comet 67P and they are compared with those of the JFCs 81P/Wild 2, 9P/Tempel 1, and 103P/Hartley 2. The orbital evolutionary histories of these comets over the past 100 000 yr are analyzed statistically and compared with each other. Results. The global distribution of the circular depressions over the surface of 67P is charted and classified. Descriptions are given to the characteristics and cumulative size frequency distribution of the identified features. Orbital statistics of the JFCs visited by spacecraft are derived. Conclusions. The size frequency distribution of the circular depressions is found to have a similar power law distribution to those of 9P/Tempel 1 and 81P/Wild 2. This might imply that they could have been generated by the same process. Orbital integration calculation shows that the surface erosion histories of 81P/Wild 2, and 9P/Tempel 1 could be shorter than those of 67P, 103 P/Hartley 2 and 19P/Borrelly. From this point of view, the circular depressions could be dated back to the pre-JFC phase or the transneptunian phase of these comets. The north-south asymmetry in the distribution of the circular depressions could be associated with the heterogeneous structure of the nucleus of comet 67P and/or the solar insolation history.

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“…(Kelley et al 2013). Heliocentric light curves of the NEOs would provide a more complete information Fig.…”

Section: The Photometry Of 2p/encke Obtained In This Analysis Is Wellmentioning

confidence: 99%

2P/Encke, the Taurid complex NEOs and the Maribo and Sutter’s Mill meteorites

Tubiana

Snodgrass

Michelsen

et al. 2015

A&A

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Aims. 2P/Encke is a short period comet that was discovered in 1786 and has been extensively observed and studied for more than 200 years. The Taurid meteoroid stream has long been linked with 2P/Encke owing to a good match of their orbital elements, even though the comet's activity is not strong enough to explain the number of observed meteors. Various small near-Earth objects (NEOs) have been discovered with orbits that can be linked to 2P/Encke and the Taurid meteoroid stream. Maribo and Sutter's Mill are CM type carbonaceous chondrite that fell in Denmark on January 17, 2009 and April 22, 2012, respectively. Their pre-atmospheric orbits place them in the middle of the Taurid meteoroid stream, which raises the intriguing possibility that comet 2P/Encke could be the parent body of CM chondrites. Methods. To investigate whether a relationship between comet 2P/Encke, the Taurid complex associated NEOs, and CM chondrites exists, we performed photometric and spectroscopic studies of these objects in the visible wavelength range. We observed 2P/Encke and 10 NEOs on August 2, 2011 with the FORS instrument at the 8.2 m Very Large Telescope on Cerro Paranal (Chile). Results. Images in the R filter, used to investigate the possible presence of cometary activity around the nucleus of 2P/Encke and the NEOs, show that no resolved coma is present. None of the FORS spectra show the 700 nm absorption feature due to hydrated minerals that is seen in the CM chondrite meteorites. All objects show featureless spectra with moderate reddening slopes at λ < 800 nm. Apart for 2003 QC 10 and 1999 VT 25 , which show a flatter spectrum, the spectral slope of the observed NEOs is compatible with that of 2P/Encke. However, most of the NEOs show evidence of a silicate absorption in lower S/N data at λ > 800 nm, which is not seen in 2P/Encke, which suggests that they are not related. Conclusions. Despite similar orbits, we find no spectroscopic evidence for a link between 2P/Encke, the Taurid complex NEOs and the Maribo and Sutter's Mill meteorites. However, we cannot rule out a connection to the meteorites either, as the spectral differences may be caused by secondary alteration of the surfaces of the NEOs.

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The persistent activity of Jupiter-family comets at 3–7AU

Cited by 41 publications

References 64 publications

Beginning of activity in 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko and predictions for 2014–2015

Beginning of activity in 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko and predictions for 2014–2015

Physical properties and dynamical relation of the circular depressions on comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko

2P/Encke, the Taurid complex NEOs and the Maribo and Sutter’s Mill meteorites

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