Some diatomic molecules from comet P/Halley's UV spectra near spacecraft flybys
Abstract
The abundances of diatomic molecules seen in the UV both give clues to the parent compounds and help unravel the gas and ion mass spectrometry. From IUE spectra of comet Halley, the authors find upper limits on SH and CS+ column densities, and estimates of probable NO, S2, and SO. In particular, judged from the 226 nm γ-band, NO was relatively abundant at 2 - 8×1013cm-2 on March 9 - 14. The production rate of S2 was around 1027 molecules s-1 at that time, but both showed day-to-day variability by 2 - 3 times.
- Publication:
-
Astronomy and Astrophysics
- Pub Date:
- November 1987
- Bibcode:
- 1987A&A...187..329W
- Keywords:
-
- Abundance;
- Comet Nuclei;
- Halley'S Comet;
- Molecular Spectra;
- Ultraviolet Spectroscopy;
- Diatomic Molecules;
- Flyby Missions;
- Iue;
- Mass Spectrometers;
- Nitric Oxide;
- Sulfur;
- Sulfur Compounds;
- Astrophysics