Article (Scientific journals)
Discovery of the atomic iron tail of comet McNaught using the Heliospheric Imager on STEREO
Fulle, M.; Leblanc, F.; Harrison, R. A. et al.
2007In Astrophysical Journal, 661 (1, Part 2), p. 93-L96
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Keywords :
atomic data; comets : general; comets : individual (McNaught 2006P1)
Abstract :
[en] In 2007 January, at the heliocentric distance r < 0.3 AU, comet McNaught 2006P1 became the brightest comet since C/Ikeya-Seki 1965S1 and was continuously monitored by space-based solar observatories. We provide strong evidence that an archlike tail observed by the Heliospheric Imager aboard the STEREO spacecraft is the first ever detected tail composed of neutral Fe atoms. We obtain an Fe lifetime tau = (4.1 +/- 0.4) x 10(4) s at r = 0.25 AU, in agreement with theoretical predictions of the photoionization lifetime. The expected dust temperature is inconsistent with iron sublimation, suggesting that Fe atoms are coming from troilite evaporation.
Disciplines :
Earth sciences & physical geography
Author, co-author :
Fulle, M.
Leblanc, F.
Harrison, R. A.
Davis, C. J.
Eyles, C. J.
Halain, Jean-Philippe ;  Université de Liège - ULiège > CSL (Centre Spatial de Liège)
Howard, Russell A.
Bockelee-Morvan, D.
Cremonese, G.
Scarmato, T.
Language :
English
Title :
Discovery of the atomic iron tail of comet McNaught using the Heliospheric Imager on STEREO
Publication date :
20 May 2007
Journal title :
Astrophysical Journal
ISSN :
0004-637X
eISSN :
1538-4357
Publisher :
Univ Chicago Press, Chicago, United States - Illinois
Volume :
661
Issue :
1, Part 2
Pages :
L93-L96
Peer reviewed :
Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi
Available on ORBi :
since 20 June 2016

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