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Remote comets and related bodies - VJHK colorimetry and surface materialsVJHK colors for a number of asteroids and eight comets at various solar distances and levels of activity were obtained, and the observations are interpreted in terms of a two-component mixing model in which outer solar system interplanetary bodies are viewed as mixtures of ice and dark carbonaceous-type (RD and C) dirt. It is inferred that the observed comets have comae, and perhaps surfaces, of dirty ice or ice dirt grains colored by an RD-dirt component. This inference is supported by systematics of an 'alpha index' based on VJHK colors and empirically correlated with albedo and ice/dirt ratio. Among comets the alpha index correlates with solar distance in a way that suggests comets emit dirty ice grains which are stable at large solar distance but from which the ice component sublimes and leaves dirt grains at small solar distance.
Document ID
19830041708
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Hartmann, W. K.
Cruikshank, D. P.
Degewij, J.
Date Acquired
August 11, 2013
Publication Date
December 1, 1982
Publication Information
Publication: Icarus
Volume: 52
Subject Category
Astrophysics
Accession Number
83A22926
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NASW-2909
CONTRACT_GRANT: NASW-3134
CONTRACT_GRANT: NGL-12-001-057
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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