Ground-based infrared observations of comet Halley

T. L. Hayward, R. D. Gehrz, G. L. Grasdalen

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

10 Scopus citations

Abstract

The images of comet Halley's nucleus returned during three spacecraft encounters in March 19861,2 are challenging the theory of the release of particles from a comet's nucleus. Instead of a spherically symmetric outflow, each spacecraft observed strong jets flowing from the sunward side of the nucleus. Here we present ground based 2-23 μm photometry and 10.3 μm imaging of Halley taken within hours of the Giotto spacecraft encounter. The photometry shows a colour temperature of 360 K and silicate emission features at 10 and 20 μm, and the image shows jet activity similar to that observed by Giotto, but on a scale of thousands of km. The expected 10 μm surface brightness, based on the particle mass distribution measured by Giotto and assuming solid, spherical grains, is a factor of six lower than the observed value. We suggest that fluffy particles could remove this discrepancy.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)55-57
Number of pages3
JournalNature
Volume326
Issue number6108
DOIs
StatePublished - 1987

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