91 research outputs found
Observations of cometary parent molecules with the IRAM radio telescope
Several rotational transitions of HCN, H2S, H2CO, and CH3OH were detected in comets P/Brorsen-Metcalf 1989 X, Austin (1989c1) and Levy (1990c) with the Institute for Millimeter Radioastronomy (IRAM) 30-m radio telescope. This allows us to determine the production rates of these molecules and to probe the physical conditions of the coma
Coordinated thermal and optical observations of Trans-Neptunian object (20000) Varuna from Sierra Nevada
We report on coordinated thermal and optical measurements of trans-Neptunian
object (20000) Varuna obtained in January-February 2002, respectively from the
IRAM 30-m and IAA 1.5 m telescopes. The optical data show a lightcurve with a
period of 3.176+/-0.010 hr, a mean V magnitude of 20.37+/-0.08 and a
0.42+/-0.01 magnitude amplitude. They also tentatively indicate that the
lightcurve is asymmetric and double-peaked. The thermal observations indicate a
1.12+/-0.41 mJy flux, averaged over the object's rotation. Combining the two
datasets, we infer that Varuna has a mean 1060(+180/-220) km diameter and a
mean 0.038(+0.022/-0.010) V geometric albedo, in general agreement with an
earlier determination using the same technique.Comment: Accepted for publication in Astronomy & Astrophysics (7 pages,
including 3 figures
Complex organic molecules in comets C/2012 F6 (Lemmon) and C/2013 R1 (Lovejoy): detection of ethylene glycol and formamide
A spectral survey in the 1 mm wavelength range was undertaken in the
long-period comets C/2012 F6 (Lemmon) and C/2013 R1 (Lovejoy) using the 30 m
telescope of the Institut de radioastronomie millim\'etrique (IRAM) in April
and November-December 2013. We report the detection of ethylene glycol
(CHOH) (aGg' conformer) and formamide (NHCHO) in the two comets.
The abundances relative to water of ethylene glycol and formamide are 0.2-0.3%
and 0.02% in the two comets, similar to the values measured in comet C/1995 O1
(Hale-Bopp). We also report the detection of HCOOH and CHCHO in comet
C/2013 R1 (Lovejoy), and a search for other complex species (methyl formate,
glycolaldehyde).Comment: Accepted for publication as a Letter in Astronomy and Astrophysic
Search for CO gas in Pluto, Centaurs and Kuiper Belt objects at radio wavelengths
We have searched for several rotational lines of CO in the Pluto-Charon system, Centaurs (Chiron, Pholus, Nessus, Asbolus, Chariklo and 1998 SG35) and Kuiper Belt objects (1994 TB, 1996 TL66, 1996 TO66, 1996 TP66 and 1998 WH4). The observations were performed with the 30 m telescope of the Institut de Radioastronomie Millimétrique for Pluto/Charon, and with the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope and Caltech Submillimeter Observatory for Centaurs and Kuiper Belt objects. A tentative 4.5-σ J(2-1) CO line is present in the Pluto/Charon spectrum, which requires further confirmation. Assuming that Charon does not contribute to the CO emission, an upper limit of 1.2% and 7% is obtained for the CO/N_2 mixing ratio in Pluto's atmosphere, using the atmospheric thermal structure derived from the Stansberry et al. (1994, Icarus 111, 503) and Strobel et al. (1996, Icarus 120, 266) models, respectively. These upper limits are more constraining (by more than a factor of 6) than the upper limits reported by Young et al. (2001, Icarus, in press) from near-IR spectroscopy. None of the Centaurs or Kuiper Belt objects (KBO) were detected in CO. The CO production rate upper limit obtained for Chiron (3-5 x 10^(27) mol s^(-1)) over 1998-2000 years is a factor of 10 lower than the CO production rate derived from the marginal CO detection obtained in June 1995 by Womack & Stern ([CITE], Astron. Vestnik 33, 216), using same modelling of CO emission. Upper limits obtained for other Centaurs are typically ~10^(28) mol s^(-1), and between 1 and 5 x 10^(28) mol s^(-1) for the best observed KBOs. The comparison between these upper limits and the CO outgassing rates of comet C/1995 O1 (Hale-Bopp) measured at large distances from the Sun shows that Centaurs and KBOs underwent significant CO-devolatilization since their formation
Ammonia and other parent molecules in comet 10P/Tempel 2 from Herschel/HIFI and ground-based radio observations
The Jupiter-family comet 10P/Tempel 2 was observed during its 2010 return
with the Herschel Space Observatory. We present here the observation of the (J,
K) = (1, 0)-(0, 0) transition of ammonia at 572 GHz in this comet with the
Heterodyne Instrument for the Far Infrared (HIFI) of Herschel. We also report
on radio observations of other molecules (HCN, CH3OH, H2S and CS) obtained
during the 1999 return of the comet with the CSO telescope and the JCMT, and
during its 2010 return with the IRAM 30-m telescope. Molecular abundances
relative to water are 0.09%, 1.8%, 0.4%, and 0.08% for HCN, CH3OH, H2S, and CS,
respectively. An abundance of 0.5% for NH3 is obtained, which is similar to the
values measured in other comets. The hyperfine structure of the ammonia line is
resolved for the first time in an astronomical source. Strong anisotropy in the
outgassing is present in all observations from 1999 to 2010 and is modelled to
derive the production rates.Comment: 6 pages and 8 figures. Accepted for publication in Astronomy &
Astrophysic
Isotopic ratios of H, C, N, O, and S in comets C/2012 F6 (Lemmon) and C/2014 Q2 (Lovejoy)
The apparition of bright comets C/2012 F6 (Lemmon) and C/2014 Q2 (Lovejoy) in
March-April 2013 and January 2015, combined with the improved observational
capabilities of submillimeter facilities, offered an opportunity to carry out
sensitive compositional and isotopic studies of the volatiles in their coma. We
observed comet Lovejoy with the IRAM 30m telescope between 13 and 26 January
2015, and with the Odin submillimeter space observatory on 29 January - 3
February 2015. We detected 22 molecules and several isotopologues. The
HO and HO production rates measured with Odin follow a
periodic pattern with a period of 0.94 days and an amplitude of ~25%. The
inferred isotope ratios in comet Lovejoy are O/O = 499 24
and D/H = 1.4 0.4 in water, S/S = 24.7
3.5 in CS, all compatible with terrestrial values. The ratio
C/C = 109 14 in HCN is marginally higher than terrestrial
and N/N = 145 12 in HCN is half the Earth ratio. Several
upper limits for D/H or 12C/13C in other molecules are reported. From our
observation of HDO in comet C/2014 Q2 (Lovejoy), we report the first D/H ratio
in an Oort Cloud comet that is not larger than the terrestrial value. On the
other hand, the observation of the same HDO line in the other Oort-cloud comet,
C/2012 F6 (Lemmon), suggests a D/H value four times higher. Given the previous
measurements of D/H in cometary water, this illustrates that a diversity in the
D/H ratio and in the chemical composition, is present even within the same
dynamical group of comets, suggesting that current dynamical groups contain
comets formed at very different places or times in the early solar system.Comment: Accepted for publication in Astronomy and Astrophysic
XPOL - the correlation polarimeter at the IRAM 30m telescope
XPOL, the first correlation polarimeter at a large millimeter telescope, uses
a flexible digital correlator to measure all four Stokes parameters
simultaneously, i.e. the total power I, the linear polarization components Q
and U, and the circular polarization V. The versatility of the backend provides
adequate bandwidth for efficient continuum observations as well as sufficient
spectral resolution (40 kHz) for observations of narrow lines. We demonstrate
that the polarimetry specific calibrations are handled with sufficient
precision, in particular the relative phase between the Observatory's two
orthogonally linearly polarized receivers. The many facets of instrumental
polarization are studied at 3mm wavelength in all Stokes parameters: on-axis
with point sources and off-axis with beam maps. Stokes Q which is measured as
the power difference between the receivers is affected by instrumental
polarization at the 1.5% level. Stokes U and V which are measured as cross
correlations are very little affected (maximum sidelobes 0.6% (U) and 0.3%
(V)). These levels critically depend on the precision of the receiver
alignment. They reach these minimum levels set by small ellipticities of the
feed horns when alignment is optimum (<~ 0.3"). A second critical prerequisite
for low polarization sidelobes turned out to be the correct orientation of the
polarization splitter grid. Its cross polarization properties are modeled in
detail. XPOL observations are therefore limited only by receiver noise in
Stokes U and V even for extended sources. Systematic effects set in at the 1.5%
level in observations of Stokes Q. With proper precautions, this limitation can
be overcome for point sources. Stokes Q observations of extended sources are
the most difficult with XPOL.Comment: 31 pages, accepted for publication by Publications of the
Astronomical Society of the Pacific on 2008/05/2
Search for CO gas in Pluto, Centaurs and Kuiper Belt objects at radio wavelengths
We have searched for several rotational lines of CO in the Pluto-Charon system, Centaurs (Chiron, Pholus, Nessus, Asbolus, Chariklo and 1998 SG35) and Kuiper Belt objects (1994 TB, 1996 TL66, 1996 TO66, 1996 TP66 and 1998 WH4). The observations were performed with the 30 m telescope of the Institut de Radioastronomie Millimétrique for Pluto/Charon, and with the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope and Caltech Submillimeter Observatory for Centaurs and Kuiper Belt objects. A tentative 4.5-σ J(2-1) CO line is present in the Pluto/Charon spectrum, which requires further confirmation. Assuming that Charon does not contribute to the CO emission, an upper limit of 1.2% and 7% is obtained for the CO/N_2 mixing ratio in Pluto's atmosphere, using the atmospheric thermal structure derived from the Stansberry et al. (1994, Icarus 111, 503) and Strobel et al. (1996, Icarus 120, 266) models, respectively. These upper limits are more constraining (by more than a factor of 6) than the upper limits reported by Young et al. (2001, Icarus, in press) from near-IR spectroscopy. None of the Centaurs or Kuiper Belt objects (KBO) were detected in CO. The CO production rate upper limit obtained for Chiron (3-5 x 10^(27) mol s^(-1)) over 1998-2000 years is a factor of 10 lower than the CO production rate derived from the marginal CO detection obtained in June 1995 by Womack & Stern ([CITE], Astron. Vestnik 33, 216), using same modelling of CO emission. Upper limits obtained for other Centaurs are typically ~10^(28) mol s^(-1), and between 1 and 5 x 10^(28) mol s^(-1) for the best observed KBOs. The comparison between these upper limits and the CO outgassing rates of comet C/1995 O1 (Hale-Bopp) measured at large distances from the Sun shows that Centaurs and KBOs underwent significant CO-devolatilization since their formation
Millimetre continuum measurements of extragalactic radio sources:IV. Data from 1993-1994
Radio flux densities are presented for 118 extragalactic
radio sources monitored at 90, 142 and 230 GHz with the IRAM 30 m
telescope during 1993–1994. For the most frequently observed sources
we show light curves including
30 m-measurements published in previous papers
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