Bibcode
Fernandez, Yanga R.; Kelley, M. S.; Lamy, P. L.; Toth, I.; Groussin, O.; Lisse, C. M.; A'Hearn, M. F.; Bauer, J. M.; Campins, H.; Fitzsimmons, A.; Licandro, J.; Lowry, S. C.; Meech, K. J.; Pittichova, J.; Reach, W. T.; Weaver, H. A.
Bibliographical reference
American Astronomical Society, DPS meeting #39, #43.01; Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, Vol. 39, p.497
Advertised on:
10
2007
Citations
0
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0
Description
We present results from SEPPCoN (Survey of Ensemble Physical Properties
of Cometary Nuclei), a survey of 100 Jupiter-family comets (JFCs) using
the Spitzer Space Telescope for mid-infrared measurements of thermal
emission and several ground-based telescopes for visible-wavelength
measurements of reflected sunlight. Our sample represents about 30% of
all known JFCs. The Spitzer observations are complete, and each comet
was observed at either two wavelengths (16 and 22 μm) or at one
wavelength twice (24 μm). Our survey constrains the effective radii
of the JFC nuclei and thence the size distribution while only assuming
that cometary geometric albedos are low (few percent); we need not
assume that they are all the same. Also, nearly all survey targets were
observed when farther than 4 AU from the Sun to minimize (and in most
cases eliminate) coma confusion. Using the observations of comets at two
wavelengths, and using the Near-Earth Asteroid Thermal Model, we have
estimated the JFC ensemble-average beaming parameter to be about 1.1. On
average, cometary nuclei seem to have low thermal inertia and not have
significant infrared beaming, although we do find that some of our
survey targets have significantly higher parameters and thus likely
higher thermal inertia. Analysis on the cumulative size distribution
continues and we present our preliminary estimate of its shape, as well
as the implications for the assumption of uniform albedo and for the
extent of the small-comet (sub-km) population. So far we have obtained
visible magnitudes on almost half of our targets; we plan to complete
this part of the survey in the coming years. With these data we will
constrain the JFC albedo distribution and again address the question of
albedo uniformity; current progress on this task is reported as well. We
thank the Spitzer Science Center for supporting this research.