5,095 research outputs found
Archival Study of Energetic Processes in the Upper Atmosphere of the Outer Planets
We compare International Ultraviolet Explorer (IUE) spectral observations of Jupiter's UltraViolet (UV) aurora in H-Lyman alpha (H-Lya) and H2 emissions with images of the UV aurora with HST to make more realistic interpretations of the IUE dataset. Use the limited spatial information in the IUE line-by-line spectra of the bright H-Lya line emission in the form of pseudo-monochromatic images at the IUE 3.5 arcsec resolution (Lya pseudo-images), to derive information on the emissions. Analysing of H2 spectra of Saturn's UV aurora to infer atmospheric level of auroral excitation from the methane absorption (color ratios). Analysing of a Uranus IUE dataset to determine periodicity in the emissions attributable to auroral emission fixed in magnetic longitude. Reviewing of the results from IUE observations of the major planets, upper atmospheres and interactions with the planets magnetospheres. Analysing of IUE spectra of the UV emissions from Io to identify excitation processes and infer properties of the Io-torus-Jupiter system
A Deep ROSAT HRI Observation of NGC 1313
We describe a series of observations of NGC 1313 using the ROSAT HRI with a
combined exposure time of 183.5 ksec. The observations span an interval between
1992 and 1998; the purpose of observations since 1994 was to monitor the X-ray
flux of SN1978K, one of several luminous sources in the galaxy. No diffuse
emission is detected in the galaxy to a level of ~1-2x10^37 ergs/s/arcmin^-2. A
total of eight sources are detected in the summed image within the D_25
diameter of the galaxy. The luminosities of five of the eight range from
\~6x10^37 to ~6x10^38 erg/s; these sources are most likely accreting X-ray
binaries, similar to sources obseved in M31 and M33. The remaining three
sources all emit above 10^39 erg/s. We present light curves of the five
brightest sources. Variability is detected at the 99.9% level from four of
these. We identify one of the sources as an NGC 1313 counterpart of a Galactic
X-ray source. The light curve, though crudely sampled, most closely resembles
that of a Galactic black hole candidate such as GX339-4, but with considerably
higher peak X-ray luminosity. An additional seven sources lie outside of the
D_25 diameter and are either foreground stars or background AGN.Comment: 18 pages, 9 figures; accepted AJ, scheduled for November 200
First redshift determination of an optically/UV faint submillimeter galaxy using CO emission lines
We report the redshift of a distant, highly obscured submm galaxy (SMG),
based entirely on the detection of its CO line emission. We have used the newly
commissioned Eight-MIxer Receiver (EMIR) at the IRAM 30m telescope, with its 8
GHz of instantaneous dual-polarization bandwidth, to search the 3-mm
atmospheric window for CO emission from SMMJ14009+0252, a bright SMG detected
in the SCUBA Lens Survey. A detection of the CO(3--2) line in the 3-mm window
was confirmed via observations of CO(5--4) in the 2-mm window. Both lines
constrain the redshift of SMMJ14009+0252 to z=2.9344, with high precision (dz=2
10^{-4}). Such observations will become routine in determining redshifts in the
era of the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA).Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures, accepted by ApJ
Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Of The Nucleus Of Low-Activity Comet P/2016 BA During Its 2016 Close Approach
The Near-Earth Comet P/2016 BA (PanSTARRS) is a slow-rotatating
nearly-dormant object, a likely dynamical twin of 252P/LINEAR, and was recently
shown to have a mid-infrared spectrum very dissimilar to other comets.
BA also recently selected one of the back-up targets for the ESA's
\textit{Comet Interceptor}, so a clearer understanding of BA's modern
properties would not just improve our understanding of how comets go dormant,
but could also aid planning for a potential spacecraft visit. We present
observations of BA taken on two dates during its 2016 Earth close
approach with the NASA Infrared Telescope Facility, both of which are
consistent with direct observations of its nucleus. The reflectance spectrum of
BA is similar to 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko, albeit highly
phase-reddened. Thermal emission contaminates the reflectance spectrum at
longer wavelengths, which we correct with a new Markov Chain Monte Carlo
thermal modeling code. The models suggest 's visible geometric albedo
is , consistent with radar observations, its beaming parameter
is typical for NEOs observed in its geometry, and its reflectrance spectrum is
red and linear throughout H and K band. It appears very much like a "normal"
comet nucleus, despite its mid-infrared oddities. A slow loss of fine grains as
the object's activity diminished might help to reconcile some of the lines of
evidence, and we discuss other possibilities. A spacecraft flyby past BA
could get closer to the nucleus than with a more active target, and we
highlight some science questions that could be addressed with a visit to a
(nearly-)dormant comet.Comment: 18 pages, 3 figures, accepted for publication in the Planetary
Science Journal on April 1, 202
Production, Outflow, Velocity, and Radial Distribution of H2O and OH in the Coma of Comet C/1995 O1 (Hale-Bopp) from Wide-field Imaging of OH
Observations of OH are a useful proxy of the water production rate (Q H2O) and outflow velocity (VH2O) in comets. From wide-field images taken on 1997 March 28 and April 8 that capture the entire scale length of the OH coma of comet C/1995 O1 (Hale-Bopp), we obtain Q OH from the model-independent method of aperture summation and Q H2O from the OH photochemical branching ratio, BROH. Using an adaptive ring summation algorithm, we extract the radial brightness distribution of OH 0-0 band emission out to cometocentric distances of up to 10 to the sixth power km, both as azimuthal averages and in quadrants covering different position angles relative to the comet-Sun line. These profiles are fitted using both fixed and variable velocity two-component spherical expansion models to estimate VOH with increasing distance from the nucleus. The OH coma of Hale-Bopp was more spatially extended than those of previous comets, and this extension is best matched by a variable acceleration of H 2O and OH that acted across the entire coma, but was strongest within 1-2 × 104 km from the nucleus. Our models indicate that VOH at the edge of our detectable field of view (10 to the sixth power km) was ∼2-3 times greater in Hale-Bopp than for 1P/Halley class comet at 1 AU, which is consistent with the results of more sophisticated gas-kinetic models, extrapolation from previous observations of OH in comets with QH2O \u3e 10 to the twenty-ninth power s superscript -1, and direct radio measurements of the outer coma Hale-Bopp OH velocity. The likely source of this acceleration is thermalization of the excess energy of dissociation of H2O and OH over an extended collisional coma. When the coma is broken down by quadrants in position angle, we find an azimuthal asymmetry in the radial distribution that is characterized by an increase in the spatial extent of OH in the region between the orbit-trailing and anti-Sunward directions. Model fits specific to this area and comparison with radio OH measurements suggest greater acceleration here, with VOH ∼ 1.5 times greater at a 10 to the sixth power km cometocentric distance than elsewhere in the coma. We discuss several mechanisms that may have acted within the coma to produce the observed effect
Permeability Barrier Disruption Coordinately Regulates mRNA Levels for Key Enzymes of Cholesterol, Fatty Acid, and Ceramide Synthesis in the Epidermis
The extracellular lipids of the stratum corneum, which are comprised mainly of cholesterol, fatty acids, and ceramides, are essential for epidermal permeability barrier function. Moreover, disruption of the permeability barrier results in an increased cholesterol, fatty acid, and ceramide synthesis in the underlying epidermis. This increase in lipid synthesis has been shown previously to be due to increased activities of HMG-CoA reductase, acetyl-CoA carboxylase, fatty acid synthase and serine palmitoyl transferase, key enzymes of cholesterol, fatty acid, and ceramide synthesis, respectively. In the present study, we determined whether the mRNA levels for the key enzymes required for synthesis of these three classes of lipids increase coordinately during barrier recovery. By northern blotting, the steady-state mRNA levels for HMG-CoA reductase, HMG-CoA synthase, farnesyl pyrophosphate synthase, and squalene synthase, key enzymes for cholesterol synthesis, all increased significantly after barrier disruption by either acetone or tape stripping. Additionally, the steady-state mRNA levels of acetyl-CoA carboxylase and fatty acid synthase, required for fatty acid synthesis, as well as serine palmitoyl transferase, the rate-limiting enzyme of de novo ceramide synthesis, also increased. Furthermore, artificial restoration of the permeability barrier by occlusion after barrier disruption prevented the increase in mRNA levels for all of these enzymes, except farnesyl pyrophosphate synthase, indicating a specific link of the increase in mRNA levels to barrier requirements. The parallel increase in epidermal mRNA levels for the enzymes required for cholesterol, fatty acid, and ceramide synthesis may be due to one or more transcription factors that regulate lipid requirements for permeability barrier function in keratinocytes
GALEX FUV Observations of Comet C/2004 Q2 (Machholz): The Ionization Lifetime of Carbon
We present a measurement of the lifetime of ground state atomic carbon,
C(^3P), against ionization processes in interplanetary space and compare it to
the lifetime expected from the dominant physical processes likely to occur in
this medium. Our measurement is based on analysis of a far ultraviolet (FUV)
image of comet C/2004 Q2 (Machholz) recorded by the Galaxy Evolution Explorer
(GALEX) on 2005 March 1. The bright CI 1561 A and 1657 A multiplets dominate
the GALEX FUV band. We used the image to create high S/N radial profiles that
extended beyond one million km from the comet nucleus. Our measurements yielded
a total carbon lifetime of 7.1 -- 9.6 x 10^5 s (scaled to 1 AU). Which compares
favorably to calculations assuming solar photoionization, solar wind proton
change exchange and solar wind electron impact ionization are the dominant
processes occurring in this medium and that comet Machholz was embedded in the
slow solar wind. The shape of the CI profiles inside 3x10^5 km suggests that
either the CO lifetime is shorter than previously thought and/or a
shorter-lived carbon-bearing parent molecule, such as CH_4 is providing the
majority of the carbon in this region of the coma of comet Machholz.Comment: 26 pages, 6 figures, accepted for publication in the Astrophysical
Journa
- …