Update 3/12/2009Modified by C. Ippolito March 2009 Rendezvous with a Comet Courtesy: Pat Rawlings -...
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Transcript of Update 3/12/2009Modified by C. Ippolito March 2009 Rendezvous with a Comet Courtesy: Pat Rawlings -...
Update 3/12/2009 Modified by C. IppolitoMarch 2009
Rendezvous with a CometRendezvous with a Comet
Courtesy: Pat Rawlings - Deep Impact -NASA & JPL
Page 1
Update 3/12/2009 Modified by C. IppolitoMarch 2009
IntroductionIntroduction
1000 BC from the Chinese records Omen, even as recently as 1986.
Battle of Hastings - 1066
Now studied from scientific aspect
1000 BC from the Chinese records Omen, even as recently as 1986.
Battle of Hastings - 1066
Now studied from scientific aspect
Page 2
Update 3/12/2009 Modified by C. IppolitoMarch 2009
Dirty SnowballsDirty Snowballs
as they orbit around the sun they partially vaporize
elliptical orbits
as they orbit around the sun they partially vaporize
elliptical orbits
Courtesy: Calvin J. Hamilton
Page 3
Update 3/12/2009 Modified by C. IppolitoMarch 2009
Structure of a CometStructure of a Comet
Solar heat vaporizes Coma - Hydrogen gas
Envelope Dust tail Ion tail
Solar heat vaporizes Coma - Hydrogen gas
Envelope Dust tail Ion tail
Courtesy: Deep Impact - NASA & JPL
Page 4
Update 3/12/2009 Modified by C. IppolitoMarch 2009
Orbits of CometsOrbits of Comets
Elliptical in Shape Randomly oriented
Elliptical in Shape Randomly oriented
Sun
Comet
Earth
Perihelion distance
Aphelion distance
Page 5
Update 3/12/2009 Modified by C. IppolitoMarch 2009
Comet HuntersComet Hunters
Named by International Astronomical Union (IAU) after discoverer
Often discovered by amateurs. Charles Messier E. E. Bernard Shoemaker and Levy (hit Jupiter) Hale and Bopp
Named by International Astronomical Union (IAU) after discoverer
Often discovered by amateurs. Charles Messier E. E. Bernard Shoemaker and Levy (hit Jupiter) Hale and Bopp
Page 6
Update 3/12/2009 Modified by C. IppolitoMarch 2009
Origins of CometsOrigins of Comets
debris from formation of the solar system. elliptical orbits influenced by gravitational
pull of giant planets. Two possible “home” locations:
Kuiper Belt Oort Cloud
debris from formation of the solar system. elliptical orbits influenced by gravitational
pull of giant planets. Two possible “home” locations:
Kuiper Belt Oort Cloud
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Update 3/12/2009 Modified by C. IppolitoMarch 2009
Possible Homes for CometsPossible Homes for Comets
Kuiper Belt Gerard Kuiper
1951) Elliptic 30 to 500 AU 100,000 objects
Oort Cloud Jan Oort (1950) spherical. 50,000 AU
from the Sun. 5 trillion
objects.
Kuiper Belt Gerard Kuiper
1951) Elliptic 30 to 500 AU 100,000 objects
Oort Cloud Jan Oort (1950) spherical. 50,000 AU
from the Sun. 5 trillion
objects.Courtesy - Deep Impact - NASA - JPL
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Update 3/12/2009 Modified by C. IppolitoMarch 2009
Comets and their periodsComets and their periods
Jupiter-family: Kuiper belt 20 years. Gravitational perturbations by Neptune Elliptical orbits close to the Sun Or Captured by Saturn as outer satellites
Jupiter-family: Kuiper belt 20 years. Gravitational perturbations by Neptune Elliptical orbits close to the Sun Or Captured by Saturn as outer satellites
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Update 3/12/2009 Modified by C. IppolitoMarch 2009
Comets TailsComets Tails Ludwig
Biermann solar wind causes
comet tails. Mariner 2 (1962.)
Ludwig Biermann solar wind causes
comet tails. Mariner 2 (1962.)
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Update 3/12/2009 Modified by C. IppolitoMarch 2009
Comets TailsComets Tails THREE Tails.
Blue Ion Tail ionized atoms of CN and C2.
Dust Tail sun photons hit dust particles produce radiation pressure. curved shape.
Sodium Tail invisible to unaided eyes.
THREE Tails. Blue Ion Tail
ionized atoms of CN and C2.
Dust Tail sun photons hit dust particles produce radiation pressure. curved shape.
Sodium Tail invisible to unaided eyes.
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Update 3/12/2009 Modified by C. IppolitoMarch 2009
Comet CollisionsComet Collisions Earth
devastation to life on Earth.
Jupiter Shoemaker-Levey
taped important facts about Comet collisions.
Earth devastation to life on Earth.
Jupiter Shoemaker-Levey
taped important facts about Comet collisions.
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