Coordinated radio continuum observations of comets Hyakutake and Hale-Bopp from 22 to 860 GHz

W. J. Altenhoff; J. H. Bieging; B. Butler; H. M. Butner; R. Chini; C. G.T. Haslam; E. Kreysa; R. N. Martin; R. Mauersberger; J. McMullin; D. Muders; W. L. Peters; J. Schmidt; J. B. Schraml; A. Sievers; P. Stumpff; C. Thum; A. Von Kap-herr; H. Wiesemeyer; J. E. Wink; R. Zylka

Coordinated radio continuum observations of comets Hyakutake and Hale-Bopp from 22 to 860 GHz

W. J. Altenhoff, J. H. Bieging, B. Butler, H. M. Butner, R. Chini, C. G.T. Haslam, E. Kreysa, R. N. Martin, R. Mauersberger, J. McMullin, D. Muders, W. L. Peters, J. Schmidt, J. B. Schraml, A. Sievers, P. Stumpff, C. Thum, A. Von Kap-herr, H. Wiesemeyer, J. E. WinkR. Zylka

Steward Observatory

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

31 Scopus citations

Abstract

We have observed both Comets Hyakutake and Hale-Bopp close to perigee with several telescopes at frequencies between 30 and 860 GHz for an extended period of time. The observed "light" curves can be described as a simple function of heliocentric and geocentric distances without any outburst or noticeable variability with time. Our most sensitive diameter estimate for C/Hyakutake resulted in an upper limit of 2.1 km. The nuclear diameter of C/Hale-Bopp was determined to 44.2 km after separation from the halo emission. The central part of both halos can be represented by a Gaussian with a linear size at half power points of 1870 and 11080 km for Hyakutake and Hale-Bopp, respectively. The spectral index for both comets is α = 2.8, indicating a similar particle size distributions in the halo of these comets. For Hale-Bopp the extended emission could be traced to more than 10⁵ km from its nucleus. The derived masses, contained in the halo depend strongly on the assumed physical properties of the halo particles. With κ(1mm) = 75 cm²/g. possibly more appropriate for comets, a halo mass of 6 10¹⁰ g is derived for Hyakutake and of 8 10¹² g for Hale-Bopp.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	1020-1034
Number of pages	15
Journal	Astronomy and astrophysics
Volume	348
Issue number	3
State	Published - 1999

Keywords

Comets: general
Comets: individual: c/hyakutake
Comets: individual: hale-bopp
Radiation mechanisms: thermal
Radio continuum: ISM

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Astronomy and Astrophysics
Space and Planetary Science

Cite this

Altenhoff, W. J., Bieging, J. H., Butler, B., Butner, H. M., Chini, R., Haslam, C. G. T., Kreysa, E., Martin, R. N., Mauersberger, R., McMullin, J., Muders, D., Peters, W. L., Schmidt, J., Schraml, J. B., Sievers, A., Stumpff, P., Thum, C., Von Kap-herr, A., Wiesemeyer, H., ... Zylka, R. (1999). Coordinated radio continuum observations of comets Hyakutake and Hale-Bopp from 22 to 860 GHz. Astronomy and astrophysics, 348(3), 1020-1034.

Altenhoff, WJ, Bieging, JH, Butler, B, Butner, HM, Chini, R, Haslam, CGT, Kreysa, E, Martin, RN, Mauersberger, R, McMullin, J, Muders, D, Peters, WL, Schmidt, J, Schraml, JB, Sievers, A, Stumpff, P, Thum, C, Von Kap-herr, A, Wiesemeyer, H, Wink, JE & Zylka, R 1999, 'Coordinated radio continuum observations of comets Hyakutake and Hale-Bopp from 22 to 860 GHz', Astronomy and astrophysics, vol. 348, no. 3, pp. 1020-1034.

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title = "Coordinated radio continuum observations of comets Hyakutake and Hale-Bopp from 22 to 860 GHz",

abstract = "We have observed both Comets Hyakutake and Hale-Bopp close to perigee with several telescopes at frequencies between 30 and 860 GHz for an extended period of time. The observed {"}light{"} curves can be described as a simple function of heliocentric and geocentric distances without any outburst or noticeable variability with time. Our most sensitive diameter estimate for C/Hyakutake resulted in an upper limit of 2.1 km. The nuclear diameter of C/Hale-Bopp was determined to 44.2 km after separation from the halo emission. The central part of both halos can be represented by a Gaussian with a linear size at half power points of 1870 and 11080 km for Hyakutake and Hale-Bopp, respectively. The spectral index for both comets is α = 2.8, indicating a similar particle size distributions in the halo of these comets. For Hale-Bopp the extended emission could be traced to more than 105 km from its nucleus. The derived masses, contained in the halo depend strongly on the assumed physical properties of the halo particles. With κ(1mm) = 75 cm2/g. possibly more appropriate for comets, a halo mass of 6 1010 g is derived for Hyakutake and of 8 1012 g for Hale-Bopp.",

keywords = "Comets: general, Comets: individual: c/hyakutake, Comets: individual: hale-bopp, Radiation mechanisms: thermal, Radio continuum: ISM",

author = "Altenhoff, {W. J.} and Bieging, {J. H.} and B. Butler and Butner, {H. M.} and R. Chini and Haslam, {C. G.T.} and E. Kreysa and Martin, {R. N.} and R. Mauersberger and J. McMullin and D. Muders and Peters, {W. L.} and J. Schmidt and Schraml, {J. B.} and A. Sievers and P. Stumpff and C. Thum and {Von Kap-herr}, A. and H. Wiesemeyer and Wink, {J. E.} and R. Zylka",

year = "1999",

language = "English (US)",

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pages = "1020--1034",

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T1 - Coordinated radio continuum observations of comets Hyakutake and Hale-Bopp from 22 to 860 GHz

AU - Altenhoff, W. J.

AU - Bieging, J. H.

AU - Butler, B.

AU - Butner, H. M.

AU - Chini, R.

AU - Haslam, C. G.T.

AU - Kreysa, E.

AU - Martin, R. N.

AU - Mauersberger, R.

AU - McMullin, J.

AU - Muders, D.

AU - Peters, W. L.

AU - Schmidt, J.

AU - Schraml, J. B.

AU - Sievers, A.

AU - Stumpff, P.

AU - Thum, C.

AU - Von Kap-herr, A.

AU - Wiesemeyer, H.

AU - Wink, J. E.

AU - Zylka, R.

PY - 1999

Y1 - 1999

N2 - We have observed both Comets Hyakutake and Hale-Bopp close to perigee with several telescopes at frequencies between 30 and 860 GHz for an extended period of time. The observed "light" curves can be described as a simple function of heliocentric and geocentric distances without any outburst or noticeable variability with time. Our most sensitive diameter estimate for C/Hyakutake resulted in an upper limit of 2.1 km. The nuclear diameter of C/Hale-Bopp was determined to 44.2 km after separation from the halo emission. The central part of both halos can be represented by a Gaussian with a linear size at half power points of 1870 and 11080 km for Hyakutake and Hale-Bopp, respectively. The spectral index for both comets is α = 2.8, indicating a similar particle size distributions in the halo of these comets. For Hale-Bopp the extended emission could be traced to more than 105 km from its nucleus. The derived masses, contained in the halo depend strongly on the assumed physical properties of the halo particles. With κ(1mm) = 75 cm2/g. possibly more appropriate for comets, a halo mass of 6 1010 g is derived for Hyakutake and of 8 1012 g for Hale-Bopp.

AB - We have observed both Comets Hyakutake and Hale-Bopp close to perigee with several telescopes at frequencies between 30 and 860 GHz for an extended period of time. The observed "light" curves can be described as a simple function of heliocentric and geocentric distances without any outburst or noticeable variability with time. Our most sensitive diameter estimate for C/Hyakutake resulted in an upper limit of 2.1 km. The nuclear diameter of C/Hale-Bopp was determined to 44.2 km after separation from the halo emission. The central part of both halos can be represented by a Gaussian with a linear size at half power points of 1870 and 11080 km for Hyakutake and Hale-Bopp, respectively. The spectral index for both comets is α = 2.8, indicating a similar particle size distributions in the halo of these comets. For Hale-Bopp the extended emission could be traced to more than 105 km from its nucleus. The derived masses, contained in the halo depend strongly on the assumed physical properties of the halo particles. With κ(1mm) = 75 cm2/g. possibly more appropriate for comets, a halo mass of 6 1010 g is derived for Hyakutake and of 8 1012 g for Hale-Bopp.

KW - Comets: general

KW - Comets: individual: c/hyakutake

KW - Comets: individual: hale-bopp

KW - Radiation mechanisms: thermal

KW - Radio continuum: ISM

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M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:0000675034

SN - 0004-6361

VL - 348

SP - 1020

EP - 1034

JO - Astronomy and astrophysics

JF - Astronomy and astrophysics

IS - 3

ER -

Coordinated radio continuum observations of comets Hyakutake and Hale-Bopp from 22 to 860 GHz

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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