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Preliminary analysis of cometary dust trailsDust trails are observed in the orbits of some short-period comets. Large particles, having diameters in the submillimeter range and larger, are ejected by these comets into orbits close to that of the parent comet. By considering the effects of ejection and radiation forces, the spread of particles of different diameters along a parent comet's orbit, both ahead and behind the comet in mean anomaly were modeled. Using this model, the ages of the dust trail material associated with P/Tempel 2, P/Gunn, P/Encke, and P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1 were estimated; they are found to consist of emissions occurring over a minimum of one to a few orbital periods. It also becomes possible to constrain the particle diameters in a trail segment forward of a comet's orbital position. Such a forward extension is observed in the Tempel 2 and Gunn dust trails, but not the Encke and S-W 1 dust trails. Relative particle sizes among these trails are discussed. The Tempel 2 dust trail is found to have an excess of particles with diameters greater than 1 mm.
Document ID
19870057112
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Sykes, M. V.
(Arizona Univ. Tucson, AZ, United States)
Hunten, D. M.
(Arizona, University Tucson, United States)
Low, F. J.
(Steward Observatory Tucson, AZ, United States)
Date Acquired
August 13, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1986
Publication Information
Publication: Advances in Space Research
Volume: 6
Issue: 7 19
ISSN: 0273-1177
Subject Category
Astrophysics
Accession Number
87A44386
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NSF AST-82-06173
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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