[IAUC] CBET 2529: 20101104 : COMET 103P/HARTLEY

[quai en eps.harvard.edu]

                                                  Electronic Telegram No. 2529
Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams
INTERNATIONAL ASTRONOMICAL UNION
CBAT Director:  Daniel W. E. Green; Hoffman Lab 209; Harvard University;
 20 Oxford St.; Cambridge, MA  02138; U.S.A.
e-mail:  cbatiau en eps.harvard.edu (alternate cbat en iau.org)
URL http://www.cbat.eps.harvard.edu/index.html
Prepared using the Tamkin Foundation Computer Network


COMET 103P/HARTLEY
     M. J. Mumma, B. P. Bonev, M. A. DiSanti, L. Paganini, G. L. Villanueva,
and Y. L. Radeva, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC); E. L. Gibb, University
of Missouri at St. Louis; K. Magee-Sauer, Rowan University; and J. V. Keane
and K. J. Meech, University of Hawaii, report:  "In collaborative runs in
mid-October, we acquired high-resolution infrared spectra with NIRSPEC at the
Keck Observatory.  They reveal strong detections of OH* (prompt emission),
many lines of water and HCN, plus detections of the H_2CO Q-branch (nu_1,
2781 cm**-1), C_2H_6, and CH_3OH.  Additional trace species are under
evaluation.  The quantitative results given below are provisional."

     J. V. Keane and K. J. Meech, University of Hawaii, and the above team
members report that on Oct. 19.5 UT the slit was oriented along the direction
of the CN jet (p.a. 350 degrees).  H_2O was symmetric about the nucleus, but
C_2H_6 was extended in the jet's direction.  Preliminary production rates,
rotational temperatures, and abundance ratios (percent relative to water) are:
H_2O (23 lines), 4.8 +/- 0.1 x 10**27 s-1, 75 +/- 2 K, 100 percent; C_2H_6
(many Q-branches) 2.96 +/- 0.23 x 10**25 s-1, 75 K (assumed), 0.61 percent;
CH_3OH (Q-branch nu_2-band), 11.2 +/- 0.72 x 10**25 s-1, 75K (assumed), 2.3
percent.

     B. P. Bonev, Catholic University and GSFC; and the above team members
report that on Oct. 22.5 UT the slit was oriented along the sun-comet line.
Spatial profiles for hydrogen cyanide, methanol, ethane, and water are fairly
symmetric about the nucleus.  Preliminary production rates, rotational
temperatures, and abundance ratios (percent relative to water) are:  H_2O
(20 lines), 7.2 +/- 0.29 x 10**27 s-1, 77 +/- 2 K, 100 percent; HCN (12
lines), 1.7 +/- 0.1 x 10**25 s-1, 80 K (assumed), 0.24 percent; C_2H_6 (many
Q-branches), 2.96 +/- 0.23 x 10**25 s-1, 75 K (assumed), 0.61 percent;
CH_3OH (Q-branch nu_2-band), 11.2 +/- 0.72 x 10**25 s-1, 75 K (assumed), 2.3
percent.


NOTE: These 'Central Bureau Electronic Telegrams' are sometimes
      superseded by text appearing later in the printed IAU Circulars.

                         (C) Copyright 2010 CBAT
2010 November 4                  (CBET 2529)              Daniel W. E. Green