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Infrared Spectroscopy of Parent Volatiles in Comets: Implications for AstrobiologyCurrent cometary orbits provide information on their recent dynamical history. However, determining a given comet's formation region from its current dynamical state alone is complicated by radial migration in the proto-planetary disk and by dynamical interactions with the growing giant planets. Because comets reside for long periods of time in the outer Solar System, the ices contained in their nuclei (native ices) retain a relatively well-preserved footprint of when and where they formed, and this in turn can provide clues to conditions in the formation epoch. As a comet approaches the Sun, sublimation of its native ices releases parent volatiles into the coma where they can be measured spectroscopically. The past to - 15 years have seen the advent of infrared spectrometers with high sensitivity between about 2.8 and 5.0 micron, enabling a taxonomy among comets based on abundances of parent volatiles (e.g., H2O, CO, CH4, C2H6, HCN, CH30H, H2CO, NH3). Such molecules are of keen interest to Astrobiology, as they include important pre-biotic species that likely were required for the emergence of life on Earth and perhaps elsewhere. Approximately 20 comets have thus far been characterized, beginning with C/1996 82 (Hyakutake) in 1996. Molecular production rates are established through comparison of observed emission line intensities with those predicted by quantum mechanical fluorescence models. Abundances of parent volatiles (relative to H2O) vary among even the relatively small number of comets sampled, with the most volatile species (CO and CH4) displaying the largest variations. Techniques developed for measuring parent volatile abundances in comets will be discussed, as will possible implications for their formation.
Document ID
20100003348
Acquisition Source
Goddard Space Flight Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
DiSanti, Michael A.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Date Acquired
August 25, 2013
Publication Date
January 13, 2010
Subject Category
Lunar And Planetary Science And Exploration
Meeting Information
Meeting: Astrobio2010 - Iernational Workshop to Present. Infared Spectroscopy of Parent Volatiles in Comets: Implications for Astrobiology
Location: Santiago
Country: Chile
Start Date: January 13, 2010
End Date: January 15, 2010
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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