Far-ultraviolet Observations of the Comet C/2001 Q4 (NEAT)
Abstract
We present the results of far-ultraviolet (FUV) observations of comet C/2001 Q4 (NEAT) obtained with Far-ultraviolet IMaging Spectrograph (FIMS) on board the Korean microsatellite STSAT-1, which operated at an altitude of 700 km in a sun-synchronous orbit. FIMS is a dual-channel imaging spectrograph (S channel 900-1150 Å , L channel 1350-1750 Å, λ/Δλ ~ 550) with large image fields of view (S: 4°.0×4'.6, L: 7°.5×4'.3, angular resolution 5'-10') optimized for the observation of diffuse emission of astrophysical radiation. Comet C/2001 Q4 (NEAT) was observed with a scanning survey mode when it was located around the perihelion between 8 and 15 May 2004. Several important emission lines were detected including S I (1425, 1474 Å), C I (1561, 1657 Å), CO C1Σ+-X1Σ+ system(0-0 band) at 1087.9 Å and several emission lines of CO A1Π-X1Σ+ system in the L channel in addition to the H I Lyman series such as Lyβ 1026 Å, Lyγ 972.5 Å, Lyδ 949.7 Å and Lyɛ 937.8 Å. Production rates of the notable molecules, such as water and CO, were estimated from the photon fluxes of these spectral lines and compared with previous observations. We also present the radial profiles of S I, C I and H I Lyβ obtained from the spectral images of the central coma.
- Publication:
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AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2010
- Bibcode:
- 2010AGUFM.P11C1350L
- Keywords:
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- 6008 PLANETARY SCIENCES: COMETS AND SMALL BODIES / Composition