• Title/Summary/Keyword: Comets

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AKARI NEAR-INFRARED SPECTROSCOPIC SURVEY FOR COMETARY VOLATILES

  • Ootsubo, T.;Kawakita, H.;Kobayashi, H.;Usui, F.;AKARI SOSOS team, AKARI SOSOS team
    • Publications of The Korean Astronomical Society
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    • v.27 no.4
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    • pp.161-164
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    • 2012
  • We performed a spectroscopic survey for cometary volatiles with the Infrared Camera onboard the Japanese infrared satellite AKARI. The observations were carried out in the near-infrared wavelength range in the period from 2008 June to 2010 January. In this paper, we summarize the observations and results of the AKARI survey for the mixing ratios of major volatiles in comets. We derived the $2.5-5{\mu}m$ spectra of 18 comets including both Oort cloud comets and Jupiter-family comets. Prominent emission bands in the observed spectra are the fundamental vibrational bands of water ($H_2O$) at $2.7{\mu}m$ and carbon dioxide ($CO_2$) at $4.3{\mu}m$. The fundamental vibrational band of carbon monoxide (CO) at $4.7{\mu}m$ and the broad emission feature probably related to C-H bearing molecules can also be recognized around the $3.4-3.5{\mu}m$ region in some comets. We detect $CO_2$ in 17 out of 18 comets, and derived gas production rate ratios of $CO_2$ with respect to $H_2O$ in 17 comets. We detect a reliable CO emission band only in three of the comets. Our data set provides the largest homogeneous database of $CO_2/H_2O$ ratios in comets obtained so far.

Classification of Subgroups of Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) Sungrazing Kreutz Comet Group by the Density-Based Spatial Clustering of Applications with Noise (DBSCAN) Clustering Algorithm

  • Ulkar Karimova;Yu Yi
    • Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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    • v.41 no.1
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    • pp.35-42
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    • 2024
  • Sungrazing comets, known for their proximity to the Sun, are traditionally classified into broad groups like Kreutz, Marsden, Kracht, Meyer, and non-group comets. While existing methods successfully categorize these groups, finer distinctions within the Kreutz subgroup remain a challenge. In this study, we introduce an automated classification technique using the densitybased spatial clustering of applications with noise (DBSCAN) algorithm to categorize sungrazing comets. Our method extends traditional classifications by finely categorizing the Kreutz subgroup into four distinct subgroups based on a comprehensive range of orbital parameters, providing critical insights into the origins and dynamics of these comets. Corroborative analyses validate the accuracy and effectiveness of our method, offering a more efficient framework for understanding the categorization of sungrazing comets.

Why Comets Exhibit Outbursts? A Lesson from Holmes and its Miniature

  • Ishiguro, Masateru
    • The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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    • v.39 no.1
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    • pp.67.1-67.1
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    • 2014
  • Comets are mysterious travelers from outer Solar System. It is considered that comets loose their subsurface ice once they were injected into a snow-line of the solar system, at the same time, develop adiathermic dust layers on the surface in a time scale of ~10,000 years. They eventually become inactive (see also the presentation by Yoonyoung Kim et al.). Optical similarity between comets and asteroids in comet-like orbits suggests the existence of such dormant or inactive comets supporting the evolutionary scenario. However, unforeseen accidents cast a misgiving to modify the stereotype. A periodic comet, 17P/Holmes, is known as comet with very low activity before 2007. However, the comet suddenly exhibited an outburst in 2007 October, which is known as the most energetic cometary outburst since the beginning of modern astronomy. On the other hand, another periodic comet, P/2010 V1, was not known before 2010 November probably because of low activity and discovered while it experienced outburst. We investigated the time-evolution of the magnitudes and the morphological developments based on the dynamical theory of dust grains, and derived the energy per unit mass of ~10,000 J/kg. From these observational evidences, we suggest that crystallization of buried amorphous ice (even in low-activity comets) can be responsible for the dramatic cometary outbursts.

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Search for Dormant Comets in the Infrared Asteroidal Catalog

  • Kim, Yoonyoung;Ishiguro, Masateru;Usui, Fumihiko
    • The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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    • v.39 no.1
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    • pp.67.2-67.2
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    • 2014
  • Comet nucleus is a solid body consisting of dark dust grains and ice. Cometary volatiles sublimate from subsurface layer by solar heating, leaving behind large dust grains on the surface. Eventually, the appearance could turn into asteroidal rather than cometary. It is, therefore, expected that there would be "dormant comets" in the list of known asteroids. Our research group has undertaken the research on the population of dormant comets. We applied a brand-new asteroidal catalog compiled from data garnered by three infrared astronomical observatories, AKARI, IRAS and WISE. We extracted objects which have comet-like orbits on the basis of their orbital properties (Tisserand parameters with respect to Jupiter, TJ, and aphelion distance, Q). We found that (1) there are a considerable number (>100) of asteroids in comet-like orbits, and (2) 80% of them have low albedo consistent with comets. This result suggest that these low albedo objects could be dormant comets. One unanticipated finding is that 20% of asteroids in comet-like orbit have high albedo similar to S-type asteroids. It is difficult to explain the population of S-type asteroids in comet-like orbits by the classical mechanics theory. We further found that these high-albedo objects are small (D < 2 km) bodies distributed in near-Earth space. We suggest that such high-albedo, small, near-Earth asteroids are susceptible to Yarkovsky effect and injected into comet-like orbits.

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Search for dormant comets in AcuA

  • Kim, Yoonyoung;Ishiguro, Masateru;Usui, Fumihiko
    • The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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    • v.38 no.1
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    • pp.62.2-62.2
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    • 2013
  • It is considered that comets near the ecliptic plane have been injected into inner solar system from Kuiper-belt. Some of them are still active while others are dormant with no detectable tails and comae. These dormant comets have eccentric and/or inclined orbits, which are parameterized by Tisserand parameter TJ<3. In addition, dormant comets can be differentiated from asteroids based on the albedo, because they have low albedo (the geometrical albedos pv<0.1). The conditions of TJ<3 and pv<0.1 have been used as a criteria to discriminate dormant comets from asteroids. However, we must be more careful because there are 'contaminations' from the outer region, i.e. Jovian Trojans (5.05

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A STUDY OF CHINESE ANCIENT COMETARY RECORDS

  • ZHOU HONG NAN;ZHUANG WEIFENG;WANG Yu
    • Journal of The Korean Astronomical Society
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    • v.29 no.spc1
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    • pp.443-444
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    • 1996
  • From 146 B.C. to A.D. 1760, 363 sets of cometary observations have been recorded in Chinese Ancient Records of Celestial Phenomena. The positions of all recorded comets, or their paths, on the sky are compared. Taking into account the perturbations of all nine planets and using the numerical method of N-body problem, the orbits of well-recorded comets are calculated. Identification of a periodic comet is presented.

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Phase Difference Detector for Satellite Tracking Based on Field Experiments of COMETS

  • Ta, Masuhisa;Nakajima, Isao;Juzoji, Hiroshi
    • Journal of Multimedia Information System
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    • v.5 no.3
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    • pp.155-162
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    • 2018
  • Nowadays, the tracking technology of Quadrant Detector will become actual by new micro devices. Based on the past filed data of the reception experiment with COMETS satellite, we have studied on new device (AD8302, phase difference detector) was acquired and suspect its abilities. In 1998, we have developed a Quadrant Detector for mobile to track a weak signal from satellite on Ka band of COMETS. The Quadrant Detector is comprised of four dedicated feed components for reception under an environment of Nakagami - Rician fading, and one transmission and reception feed component. We were successful in receiving a 23 GHz beacon signal from ICE transponder of the COMETS and succeeded in tracking the satellite from a moving vehicle at speeds of approximately 10 ~ 20 Km/h on paved roads. In 2018, with new device AD8302, we have verified new QD system and performed a simulation, based on the past filed experiment. This new device shall be improving the tracking abilities from mobile body on the earth to the multimedia satellite.

SPECTROSCOPY OF PLANETS AND COMETS (거대 행성들과 혜성들의 분광학)

  • KIM SANG JOON;LEE YOUNG SIEK;YI YU;KIM YOUNG HA
    • Publications of The Korean Astronomical Society
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    • v.15 no.spc1
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    • pp.31-38
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    • 2000
  • We have presented detected molecules, atoms, radicals, ions, and dimers in the atmospheres of planets and comets from Earth-based and spaceborne observatories during the last 3 decades. We have reviewed spectroscopic studies on the auroral emissions and air glows of the giant planets, and briefly summarized spectroscopic observations of dimers in the atmospheres of the giant planets and Titan. In particular, we highlighted the recent detections of new molecular emissions and absorptions in the spectra of the giant planets, Titan, and recent bright comets from spaceborne or ground-based observatories. We also reviewed current models and theories of the origin and evolution of the solar system, and implications of isotopic ratios in these atmospheres.

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Radio Propagation Characteristics Analysis of Non-geostationary Satellite(COMETS) in Clear Sky (Clear Sky에서 비정지궤도 위성(COMETS)의 전파특성 분석)

  • 김양수;최용석;이주환;김종호;이형수
    • The Journal of Korean Institute of Electromagnetic Engineering and Science
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    • v.11 no.1
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    • pp.93-101
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    • 2000
  • In this paper, propagation characteristics are analyzed under the Korean propagation condition based on the measurements for Ka-band beacon signal of COMET satellite which moves in non-geostationary orbit. Radio propagation characteristics varying as time, range, and elevation angle are presented also. As results, it is concluded that free space loss is a major parameter to the radio propagation characteristics varying as a range in clear sky. In addition, the effect of elevation angle is negligible because COMETS is observed above 40 degree.

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Polarimetry of solar system small bodies using the Seoul National University 61cm telescope and TRIPOL

  • Jin, Sunho;Ishiguro, Masateru;Kwon, Yuna Grace;Geem, Jooyeon;Bach, Yoonsoo P.;Seo, Jinguk;Sasago, Hiroshi;Sato, Shuji
    • The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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    • v.44 no.1
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    • pp.64.2-64.2
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    • 2019
  • It is known that lights scattered by comets and asteroids are partially polarized. From polarimetric observations of those objects, we can investigate physical properties, such as albedos, sizes of cometary dust particles and regolith of asteroids. Since the polarization degrees of those objects highly depend on their phase angles (Sun-object-observer's angles), long-term monitoring observations are required. Moreover, comets show unforeseeable activations (i.e., outbursts) which need follow-up observations to understand the mechanism. In order to realize such monitoring and transient observations, we installed the Triple-Range Imager and POLarimeter (TRIPOL) on the 61cm telescope of Seoul National University (Hereafter, SNU) Gwanak campus. With this combination, we can obtain g', r', i' bands photopolarimetric images simultaneously with $8.0^{\prime}{\times}8.0^{\prime}$ field of view and pixel resolution of 0.94" pixel-1. Here, we make a presentation regarding the photometric and polarimetric performances of TRIPOL on the SNU 61cm telescope. In addition, we introduce initial polarimetric results of asteroid and comets with the instruments. First, we determine the limiting magnitudes (defined as magnitudes for S/N=5) of $15.17{\pm}0.06$ (g'-band), $15.68{\pm}0.01$ (r'-band), $16.24{\pm}0.03$ (I'-band), respectively, with total 240-seconds exposure (four 60-seconds exposure images, each was taken at different rotation angle for the half-wave plate). Second, we found that the instrumental polarization is negligibly small, ($-0.32{\pm}0.04%$ in the g', $-0.36{\pm}0.05%$ in the r' and $-0.21{\pm}0.04%$ in the i'-bands), while the polarization efficiencies are large enough to maximize the performance (i.e., $97.52{\pm}0.03%$ in the g', $98.83{\pm}0.02%$ in the r' and $99.15{\pm}0.02%$ in the i'-bands). With the instruments, we made observations of three Jupiter-family comets, 21P/Giacobini-Zinner, 38P/Stephan-Oterma, and 46P/Wirtanen and plan to observe one near-Earth asteroid, (433) Eros, on a trial basis. Especially for comets, we discriminate signals from dust and gas to eliminate gas contamination, which are known to change observed degree of linear polarization, using multi-band images. We confirm that the phase angle dependency of these comets are consistent with previous observations, probably because polarimetric property of Jupiter-family comets are broadly homogeneous unlike asteroids. We will also describe future observation plans using TRIPOL and SNU 61cm telescope.

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