Hostname: page-component-6bf8c574d5-2jptb Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2025-02-23T20:39:55.544Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The Comet – Asteroid Transition: Recent Telescopic Observations

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 July 2016

Lucy-Ann Mcfadden
Lucy-Ann Mcfadden*
Affiliation:
Department of Astronomy, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742 California Space Institute, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093 E-mail [email protected]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

The phenomenon of a comet-asteroid transition presents the opportunity to study the comet reservoir in comparison to that from which asteroids are derived and to understand the evolution of comets. I discuss six significant areas which have impacted understanding of the comet-asteroid transition from recent years: new discoveries, discovery of dust and volatile comae at 2060 Chiron, observations of comet nuclei, observations of extinct-comet candidates, observations of dust trails associated with short period comets, and discovery of a dust tail on a prediscovery image of 4015 Wilson-Harrington. It is currently possible to recognize an object only as either a comet or an asteroid. There is currently insufficient information to recognize dormant or extinct cometary nuclei, though this is certainly the major goal being sought.

Type
Populations of Small Bodies
Information
Symposium - International Astronomical Union , Volume 160: Asteroids, Comets, Meteors 1993 , 1994 , pp. 95 - 110
Copyright
Copyright © Kluwer 1994 

References

A'Hearn, M.F., Campins, H., Schleicher, D.G., and Millis, R.L.: 1989, “The nucleus of P/Tempel 2.” Astrophys. J., 347, 1155–1166.Google Scholar
Bell, J.F., Owensby, P.D., Hawke, B.R., and Gaffey, M.J.: 1988, The 52-color asteroid survey: Final results and interpretation., Lunar and Planetary Science (XIX). 57–58. Lunar and Planetary Institute, Houston.Google Scholar
Belton, M.J.S.: 1991, “Characterization of the rotation of cometary nuclei.” In Comets in the Post-Halley Era, (Newburn, R.L. Jr., Neugebauer, M., Rahe, J., Eds.), 691–721, Kluwer, Boston.Google Scholar
Binzel, R.P., Xu, S., Bus, S.J., and Bowell, E.: 1992, “Origins for the near-Earth asteroids.” Science, 257, 779–782.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bowell, E.: 1992, “(4015) 1979 VA=Comet Wilson-Harrington (1949III).” IAU Circular, 5585.Google Scholar
Buratti, B.J. and Dunbar, R.S.: 1991, “Observation of a rapid decrease in the brightness of the coma of 2060 Chiron in 1990 January.” Astrophys. J., 336, 147–149.Google Scholar
Bus, S. J., A'Hearn, M.F., Schleicher, D.G., and Bowell, E.: 1991, “Detection of CN emissions from (2060) Chiron.” Science, 251, 774–777.Google Scholar
Campins, H., A'Hearn, M.F., and McFadden, L.-A.: 1987, “The bare nucleus of comet Neujmin 1.” Astrophys. J., 316, 847–857.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Campins, H., Jewitt, D., and Telesco, C.M.: 1992, “Simultaneous visible and thermal infrared observations of (2060) Chiron.[abst.]” Bull. Amer. Astron. Soc., 24, 993.Google Scholar
Campins, H., Osip, B., Gustafson, B.A.S., Rieke, G., Rieke, M., Larson, S., and Schleicher, D.: 1993, “A multi-wavelength study of the potentially meteorite-producing comet P/Wilson-Harrington (4015 1979VA).” In Abstracts for Asteroids, Comets, Meteors 1993, Lunar and Planetary Institute, Houston.Google Scholar
Chamberlin, A.B., McFadden, L.-A., Schulz, R., and Schleicher, D.G.: 1993, “2201 Oljato and 4015 Comet P/Wilson-Harrington: Search for CN(0-0) band emission.” In Abstracts for Asteroids, Comets, Meteors 1993, Lunar and Planetary Institute, Houston.Google Scholar
Cochran, W.D., Cochran, A.L., and Barker, E.S.: 1986, “Spectroscopy of asteroids in unusual orbits.” In Asteroids, Comets, Meteors II (Lagerkvist, C.-I., Lindblad, B.A., Lundstedt, H., Rickman, H., Eds.), Uppsala Universitet Reprocentralen.Google Scholar
Cruikshank, D.P., Tholen, D.J., Hartmann, W.K., Bell, J.F., and Brown, R.: 1991, “Three basaltic Earth-approaching asteroids and the source of the basaltic meteorites.” Icarus, 89, 1–13.Google Scholar
Degewij, J., Williams, J.G., Cruikshank, D.P., Gaffey, M.J., Helin, E.F., Spinrad, H., Stauffer, J., Tedesco, E.F., and Tholen, D.J.: 1980, “1979 VA: Physical parameters of a possible cometary nucleus [abst.].” Bull. Amer. Astron. Soc., 12, 665.Google Scholar
Hainaut, O. and Smette, A.: 1992, “1992 AD.” IAU Circular, 5450.Google Scholar
Harris, A.W. and Young, J.W.: 1983, “Asteroid rotation IV. 1979 Observations.” Icarus, 54, 59–109.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hartmann, W.K., Cruikshank, D.P., and Degewij, J.: 1982, “Remote comets and related bodies: VJHK colorimetry and surface materials.” Icarus, 52, 377–408.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hartmann, W.K., Tholen, D.J., and Cruikshank, D.P.: 1987, “The relationship between active comets, “extinct” comets, and dark asteroids.” Icarus, 69, 33–50.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hartmann, W.K., Tholen, D.J., Meech, K., and Cruikshank, D.P.: 1990, “2060 Chiron: Colorimetry and cometary behavior.” Icarus, 83, 1.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jewitt, D.: 1992, “Observations and physical properties of small Solar System bodies.” In Proceedings of the 30th Liège International Colloquium, (Brahic, A., Gerard, J.-C., Surdej, J., Eds.), Institute d'Astrophysique, University of Liège, 85–111.Google Scholar
Jewitt, D. and Luu, J.: 1992, “Submillimeter continuum observations of 2060 Chiron.” Astron. J., 104, 398–404.Google Scholar
Jewitt, D. and Luu, J.: 1993a, “Discovery of the candidate Kuiper belt object 1992 QB1.” Nature, 362, 730–732.Google Scholar
Jewitt, D. and Luu, J.: 1993b, “1993 RO.” IAU Circular, 5865.Google Scholar
Keller, H.U., Delamere, W.A., Huebner, W.F., Reitsema, H.J., Schmidt, H.U., Whipple, F.L., Wilhelm, K., Curdt, W., Kramm, R., Thomas, N., Arpigny, C., Barbieri, C., Bonnet, C.M., Cazes, S., Coradini, M., Cosmovici, C.B., Hughes, D.W., Jamar, C., Malaise, D., Schmidt, K., Schmidt, W. K.H., and Siege, P.: 1987, “Comet P/Halley's nucleus and its activity.” Astron. Astrophys., 187, 807–823.Google Scholar
Kowal, C.T.: 1979, “Chiron.” In Asteroids (Gehrels, T., Ed.), 436–442, Univ. of Arizona Press, Tucson.Google Scholar
Kresák, L.: 1979, “Dynamical interrelations among comets and asteroids.” In Asteroids (Gehrels, T., Ed.), 289–309, Univ. of Arizona Press, Tucson.Google Scholar
Luu, J.X., and Jewitt, D.C.: 1990a, “Cometary activity in 2060 Chiron.” Astron. J., 100, 913–932.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Luu, J.X., and Jewitt, D.C.: 1990b, “The nucleus of P/Encke.” Icarus, 86, 69–81.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Luu, J.X., and Jewitt, D.C.: 1992a, “High resolution surface brightness profiles of near-Earth asteroids.” Icarus, 97, 276–287.Google Scholar
Luu, J.X., and Jewitt, D.C.: 1992b, “Near – aphelion CCD photometry of comet P/Schwassmann Wachmann 2.” Astron. J., 104, 2243–2249.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Luu, J.X.: 1993, “Spectral diversity among the nuclei of comets.” Icarus, 104, 138–148.Google Scholar
Luu, J., and Jewitt, D.: 1993, “1993 RP.” IAU Circular, 5867.Google Scholar
Marcialis, R.L. and Buratti, B.J.: 1993, “CCD photometry of 2060 Chiron in 1985 and 1991.” Icarus, 104, 234–243.Google Scholar
McFadden, L.-A., Cochran, A., Barker, E.S., Cruikshank, D.P., and Hartmann, W.K.: 1993, “The enigmatic object 2201 Oljato: Is it an asteroid or an evolved comet?” J. Geophys. Res., 98(E2), 3031–3041.Google Scholar
Meech, K.J. and Belton, M.J.S.: 1990, “The atmosphere of 2060 Chiron.” Astron. J., 100, 1323–1338.Google Scholar
Millis, R.L., A'Hearn, M.F., and Campins, H.: 1988, “An investigation of the nucleus and coma of comet P/Arend - Rigaux.” Astrophys. J., 324, 1194–1209.Google Scholar
Prialnik, D. and Mekler, Y.: 1991, “The formation of an ice crust below the dust mantle of a cometary nucleus.” Astrophys. J., 366, 318–323.Google Scholar
Schulz, R., A'Hearn, M.F., McFadden, L.-A., Yeomans, D.K., Haken, M., and Chamberlin, A.: 1993, “2201 Oljato and 1566 Icarus: Comets and asteroids? A comparison with comet Wilson-Harrington also known as asteroid (4015) 1979 VA.” In Abstracts for Asteroids, Comets, Meteors 1993, 264, Lunar and Planetary Institute, Houston.Google Scholar
Scotti, J.V., Gehrels, T., and Rabinowitz, D.L.: 1992, “Automated detection of asteroids in real-time with the spacewatch telescope.” In Asteroids, Comets, Meteors 1991, 541–544, Lunar and Planetary Institute, Houston.Google Scholar
Steel, D., McNaught, R.H., and Asher, D.: 1992, “1991 DA: An asteroid in a bizarre orbit.” In Asteroids, Comets, Meteors 1991, 573–576, Lunar and Planetary Institute, Houston.Google Scholar
Sykes, M.V., Lebofsky, L.A., Hunten, D.M., and Low, F.: 1986, “The discovery of dust trails in the orbits of periodic comets.” Science, 232, 1115–1117.Google Scholar
Sykes, M.V. and Walker, R.G.: 1991, “Constraints on the diameter and albedo of 2060 Chiron.” Science, 251, 777–780.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sykes, M.V. and Walker, R.G.: 1992, “Cometary dust trails I. Survey.” Icarus, 95, 180–210.Google Scholar
Tholen, D.J.: 1984, “Asteroid taxonomy from cluster analysis of photometry.” Ph. D. Thesis, Univ. of Arizona.Google Scholar
Vilas, F. and Smith, B.A.: 1985, “Reflectance spectrophotometry (~0.5-1.0 μm) of outer-belt asteroids: Implications for primitive, organic Solar System material.” Icarus, 64, 503–516.Google Scholar
Vilas, F. and McFadden, L.-A.: 1992, “CCD reflectance spectra of selected asteroids: Presentation and data analysis considerations.” Icarus, 100, 85–94.Google Scholar
Weissman, P.R., A'Hearn, M.F., McFadden, L.-A., and Rickman, H.: 1989, “Evolution of comets into asteroids.” In Asteroids II (Binzel, R.P., Gehrels, T., Matthews, M.S., Eds.), 880–920, University of Arizona Press, Tucson.Google Scholar
Wetherill, G. W.: 1991, “End products of cometary evolution: Cometary origin of Earth-crossing bodies of asteroidal appearance.” In Comets in the Post-Halley Era (Newburn, R.L. Jr., Neugebauer, M., Rahe, J., Eds.), 537–556, Kluwer, Boston.Google Scholar
Williams, I.P., Fitzsimmons, A., O'Ceallaigh, D.: 1993, “1993 SB and 1993 SC.” IAU Circular, 5869.Google Scholar