Outburst activity in comets

Trigo-Rodríguez, J. M.; García-Melendo, E.; Davidsson, B.; Sánchez, A.; Rodríguez, D.; Lacruz, J.; Reyes, J. A.; Pastor, S.

doi:10.1051/0004-6361:20078666

Cited by 63 publications

(46 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…2(b). We posted an alert to the astronomical community about this unusually bright outburst (Trigo‐Rodríguez et al 2010). On February 3.18 the first multiband photometry was obtained from the Gualba Observatory (MPC442), which shows the comet exhibiting a bright core characteristic of a massive outburst (Fig.…”

Section: Observational Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These ideal values are typically affected by seeing, so the effective resolution is between 1 and 2 arcsec, or roughly about 6300 km pixel −1 . Our experience says that such a resolution is good to follow the overall nuclear activity of this centaur using the above‐mentioned standard aperture (Trigo‐Rodríguez et al 2008).…”

Section: Observational Data and Reduction Proceduresmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…During an outburst, the nuclear magnitude typically increases by 2 or 5 mag in a behaviour that seems unusual, but which would be typical for primitive objects such as, for example, centaurs and trans‐Neptunian objects (TNOs) located at the appropriated heliocentric distances. As we have pointed out previously, being so far away from the Sun, its surface temperature is below the sublimation of water ice so other physical processes are suspected of playing a role in generating outbursts (Trigo‐Rodríguez et al 2008, hereafter Paper I). In Paper I, we presented a detailed 5‐yr photometric monitoring.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

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Outburst activity in comets - II. A multiband photometric monitoring of comet 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1

Trigo-Rodríguez

García-Hernández

Sánchez³

et al. 2010

Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society

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We have carried out a continuous multiband photometric monitoring of the nuclear activity of comet 29P/Schwassmann–Wachmann 1 from 2008 to 2010. Our main aim has been to study the outburst mechanism on the basis of a follow‐up of the photometric variations associated with the release of dust. We have used a standardized method to obtain the 10‐arcsec nucleus photometry in the V, R and I filters of the Johnson–Kron–Cousins system, which are accurately calibrated with standard Landolt stars. The production of dust in the R and I bands during the 2010 February 3 outburst has been also computed. We conclude that the massive ejection of large (optically thin) particles from the surface at the time of the outburst is the triggering mechanism to produce the outburst. The ulterior sublimation of these ice‐rich dust particles during the following days induces fragmentation, generating micrometre‐sized grains, which increase the dust spatial density to produce the outburst in the optical range as a result of the scattering of sunlight. The material leaving the nucleus adopts a fan‐like dust feature, formed by micrometre‐sized particles that decay in brightness as it evolves outwards. By analysing the photometric signal measured in a standardized 10‐arcsec aperture using the phase dispersion minimization technique, we have found a clear periodicity of 50 d. Remarkably, this value is also consistent with an outburst frequency of 7.4 outbursts per yr deduced from the number of outbursts noticed during the effective observing time.

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Section: Observational Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Observational Data and Reduction Proceduresmentioning

confidence: 98%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

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Outburst activity in comets - II. A multiband photometric monitoring of comet 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1

Trigo-Rodríguez

García-Hernández

Sánchez³

et al. 2010

Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society

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“…For example, the first two known Centaurs, 29P and 39P, are comets, discovered thanks to the extra brightness from the coma. In fact, 29P has probably never been seen inactive (Jewitt 1990; Meech et al 1993), but frequently observed to burst out at irregular time intervals and with a range of amplitudes (Trigo-Rodríguez et al 2008. The third known Centaur, Chiron, was discovered with 'stellar appearance' (Kowal & Gehrels 1977) and classified as asteroid (2060), but later developed weak activity, which earned it the additional comet number 95P.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

New Limits to CO Outgassing in Centaurs

Drahus

Yang

Lis

et al. 2016

Mon. Not. R. Astron. Soc.

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Centaurs are small Solar system objects orbiting between Jupiter and Neptune. They are widely believed to be escapees from the trans-Neptunian region on their way to become Jupiter-family comets. Indeed, some Centaurs exhibit the characteristic cometary appearance. The sublimation of carbon monoxide has been proposed as a driver of activity in distant comets, but no strong detection of gaseous CO in a Centaur other than 29P/SchwassmannWachmann 1 has been reported to date. Here we report the results of a deep search for CO outgassing in three Centaurs: (315898), (342842), and (382004). Our survey was carried out using the Caltech Submillimeter Observatory on nine nights in late 2011. The targeted rotational line J(2-1) of CO is undetected in all three objects in spite of high instrumental sensitivity. We find the model-dependent 3σ upper limits to the CO production rate of 2.13 × 10 27 molecules s −1 for (315898), 1.32 × 10 27 molecules s −1 for (342842), and 1.17 × 10 27 molecules s −1 for (382004), which are among the most sensitive obtained to date. These upper limits are consistently analysed in the context of published CO data of 14 Centaurs and one well-observed long-period comet, C/1995 O1 (Hale-Bopp), and support an earlier suggestion that the surfaces of most Centaurs are not dominated by exposed CO ice.

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“…The different outbursts of different comets are recorded to be phenomenologically distinct, from the large-scale dust jets (e.g. Comets Wild 2; Sekanina et al 2004 and 9P/Tempel 1; Farnham et al 2007), the periodic outburst events of P/Schwasmannn-Wachmann 1 (Hughes 1990;Trigo-Rodríguez et al 2008), to the massive outburst of 17P/Holmes (Montalto et al 2008). Similarly, explaining the outbursts in general terms proves to be difficult; however, the immediate cause(s) may be roughly separated into external sources (impacts), physicochemical exothermic processes inside the nucleus (phase changes, etc.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A model of short-lived outbursts on the 67P from fractured terrains

Skorov

Rezac

Hartogh

et al. 2016

A&A

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Aims. We develop a physical model to explain the potent outbursts that occurred in the fractured terrain of comet 67P near perihelion, and predict its temporal characteristics. Methods. The feasibility of the proposed mechanism is studied using a numerical model accounting for the relevant microscopic/macroscopic processes. We rely on the thermophysical, compositional, and geo-morphological data from the published measurements of respective instruments on board Rosetta. Results. The key idea of this novel mechanism is built around observations of fractures/cracks in the region of interest. It is argued that as the stresses on the nucleus increased during the perihelion approach, a crack deepening event occurred reaching the deeper material containing super-volatile ices in equilibrium with the surrounding. This sudden opening lead to a violent sublimation of the super-volatile ices. The time scales and mass release of this process are modeled and reported. In our modeling we pay attention to the question of the existence of super-volatile ices in the deeper interior for a long time, and the thermal equilibrium in the interior. Conclusions. The deepening of pre-existing cracks (fracture) into the material containing highly volatile ices can explain the observed outburst features. The sudden disequilibration of the steady-state reservoir of highly volatile ices results in a violent release of gas and dust. The proposed mechanism also explains the rapid shut down of this activity in accordance with the observations. The proposed mechanism is independent of solar illumination history of a given region, or the pre-existance of large sealed nucleus cavities.

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Outburst activity in comets

Cited by 63 publications

References 22 publications

Outburst activity in comets - II. A multiband photometric monitoring of comet 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1

Outburst activity in comets - II. A multiband photometric monitoring of comet 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1

New Limits to CO Outgassing in Centaurs

A model of short-lived outbursts on the 67P from fractured terrains

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