In:
The Astronomical Journal, American Astronomical Society, Vol. 152, No. 6 ( 2016-12-01), p. 169-
Abstract:
Multiple outbursts of a Jupiter-family comet (JFC), 15P/Finlay, occurred from late 2014 to early 2015. We conducted an observation of the comet after the first outburst and subsequently witnessed another outburst on 2015 January 15.6–15.7. The gas, consisting mostly of C 2 and CN, and dust particles expanded at speeds of 1110 ± 180 m s −1 and 570 ± 40 m s −1 at a heliocentric distance of 1.0 au. We estimated the maximum ratio of solar radiation pressure with respect to the solar gravity β max = 1.6 ± 0.2, which is consistent with porous dust particles composed of silicates and organics. We found that 10 8 –10 9 kg of dust particles (assumed to be 0.3 μ m–1 mm) were ejected through each outburst. Although the total mass is three orders of magnitude smaller than that of the 17P/Holmes event observed in 2007, the kinetic energy per unit mass (10 4 J kg −1 ) is equivalent to the estimated values of 17P/Holmes and 332P/2010 V1 (Ikeya–Murakami), suggesting that the outbursts were caused by a similar physical mechanism. From a survey of cometary outbursts on the basis of voluntary reports, we conjecture that 15P/Finlay-class outbursts occur 〉 1.5 times annually and inject dust particles from JFCs and Encke-type comets into interplanetary space at a rate of ∼10 kg s −1 or more.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
0004-6256
,
1538-3881
DOI:
10.3847/0004-6256/152/6/169
Language:
Unknown
Publisher:
American Astronomical Society
Publication Date:
2016
detail.hit.zdb_id:
127191-X
detail.hit.zdb_id:
2003104-X
SSG:
16,12
