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1.
We estimate the total number and the slope of the size-frequency distribution (SFD) of dormant Jupiter family comets (JFCs) by fitting a one-parameter model to the known population. We first select 61 near-Earth objects (NEOs) that are likely to be dormant JFCs because their orbits are dynamically coupled to Jupiter [Bottke, W.F., Morbidelli, A., Jedicke, R., Petit, J., Levison, H.F., Michel, P., Metcalfe, T.S., 2002a. Icarus 156, 399-433]. Then, from the numerical simulations of Levison and Duncan [1997. Icarus 127, 13-32], we construct an orbit distribution model for JFCs in the NEO orbital element space. We assume an orbit-independent SFD for all JFCs, the slope of which is our unique free parameter. Finally, we compute observational biases for dormant JFCs using a calibrated NEO survey simulator [Jedicke, R., Morbidelli, A., Spahr, T., Petit, J., Bottke, W.F., 2003. Icarus 161, 17-33]. By fitting the biased model to the data, we estimate that there are ∼75 dormant JFCs with H<18 in the NEO region and that the slope of their cumulative SFD is −1.5±0.3. Our slope for the SFD of dormant JFCs is very close to that of active JFCs as determined by Weissman and Lowry [2003. Lunar Planet. Sci. 34. Abstract 2003]. Thus, we argue that when JFCs fade they are likely to become dormant rather than to disrupt and that the fate of faded comets is size-independent. Our results imply that the size distribution of the JFC progenitors—the scattered disk trans-neptunian population—either (i) has a similar and shallow SFD or (i′) is slightly steeper and physical processes acting on the comets in a size-dependent manner creates the shallower active comet SFD. Our measured slope, typical of collisionally evolved populations with a size-dependent impact strength [Benz, W., Asphaug, E., 1999. Icarus 142, 5-20], suggests that scattered disk bodies reached collisional equilibrium inside the protoplanetary disk prior to their removal from the planetary region.  相似文献   

2.
The orbital and absolute magnitude distribution of the near-Earth objects (NEOs) is difficult to compute, partly because only a modest fraction of the entire NEO population has been discovered so far, but also because the known NEOs are biased by complicated observational selection effects. To circumvent these problems, we created a model NEO population which was fit to known NEOs discovered or accidentally rediscovered by Spacewatch. Our method was to numerically integrate thousands of test particles from five source regions that we believe provide most NEOs to the inner Solar System. Four of these source regions are in or adjacent to the main asteroid belt, while the fifth one is associated with the transneptunian disk. The nearly isotropic comets, which include the Halley-type comets and the long-period comets, were not included in our model. Test bodies from our source regions that passed into the NEO region (perihelia q<1.3 AU and aphelia Q≥0.983 AU) were tracked until they were eliminated by striking the Sun or a planet or were ejected out of the inner Solar System. These integrations were used to create five residence time probability distributions in semimajor axis, eccentricity, and inclination space (one for each source). These distributions show where NEOs from a given source are statistically most likely to be located. Combining these five residence time probability distributions with an NEO absolute magnitude distribution computed from previous work and a probability function representing the observational biases associated with the Spacewatch NEO survey, we produced an NEO model population that could be fit to 138 NEOs discovered or accidentally rediscovered by Spacewatch. By testing a range of possible source combinations, a best-fit NEO model was computed which (i) provided the debiased orbital and absolute magnitude distributions for the NEO population and (ii) indicated the relative importance of each NEO source region.Our best-fit model is consistent with 960±120 NEOs having H<18 and a<7.4 AU. Approximately 44% (as of December 2000) have been found so far. The limits on this estimate are conditional, since our model does not include nearly isotropic comets. Nearly isotropic comets are generally restricted to a Tisserand parameter (with respect to Jupiter) of T<2, such that few are believed to have a<7.4 AU. Our computed NEO orbital distribution, which is valid for bodies as faint as H<22, indicates that the Amor, Apollo, and Aten populations contain 32±1%, 62±1%, and 6±1% of the NEO population, respectively. We estimate that the population of objects completely inside Earth's orbit (IEOs) arising from our source regions is 2% the size of the NEO population. This value does not include the putative Vulcanoid population located inside Mercury's orbit. Overall, our model predicts that ∼61% of the NEO population comes from the inner main belt (a<2.5 AU), ∼24% comes from the central main belt (2.5<a<2.8 AU), ∼8% comes from the outer main belt (a>2.8 AU), and ∼6% comes from the Jupiter-family comet region (2<T?3). The steady-state population in each NEO source region, as well as the influx rates needed to replenish each region, were calculated as a by-product of our method. The population of extinct comets in the Jupiter-family comet region was also computed.  相似文献   

3.
Short-period comets with P 15 yr represent one of the most complete comet samples. The magnitude distribution of these comets was analysed using a maximum likelihood method. The brightness (magnitude) index for the comets with H 10 11 mag was estimated together with the large sample errors and found to be 0.62 ± 0.09. It was clear that many faint comets with H 10 > 11 mag remain to be discovered. Some of the faint, smaller comets have probably been removed from the distribution altogether.Observational selection was also apparent for the sample of comets with perihelia q < 1.5 AU. It was found that comets satisfying the combined criteria P 15 yr, H 10 11 mag, q < 1.5 AU probably represent the most complete set of comets available. The brightness index of this sample estimated by maximum likelihood was 0.69 ± 0.14. This translates into a mass distribution index s of 1.69 ± 0.14 indicating that most of the mass is contained in a few of the larger comets rather than spread throughout the smaller ones. This distribution, although modified by mass loss, is most likely to have been produced by a process of particle accretion.  相似文献   

4.
We present a new catalog of absolute nuclear magnitudes of Jupiter family (JF) comets, which is an updated version of our previous catalog [Tancredi, G., Fernández, J.A., Rickman, H., Licandro, J., 2000. Astron. Astrophys. Suppl. Ser. 146, 73-90]. From the new catalog we find a linear cumulative luminosity function (CLF) of slope 0.54±0.05 for JF comets with q?2.5 AU. By considering this CLF combined with the few measured geometric albedos with their respective uncertainties, and assuming a canonical albedo of 0.035±0.012 for those comets with undetermined albedos, we derive a cumulative size distribution that follows a power-law of index −2.7±0.3. The slope is similar to that derived from some theoretical collisional models and from some populations of Solar System bodies like the trans-neptunian objects. We also discuss and compare our size distribution with those by other authors that have recently appeared in the literature. Some striking differences in the computed slopes are explained in terms of biases in the studied samples, the different weights given to the brightest members of the samples, and discrepancies in the values of a few absolute nuclear magnitudes. We also compute sizes and fractions of active surface area of JF comets from their estimated absolute nuclear magnitudes and their water production rates. With the outgassing model that we use, about 60% of the computed fractions f of active surface area are found to be smaller than 0.2, with one case (28P/Neujmin 1) of no more than 0.001, which suggests that JF comets may transit through stages of very low activity, or even dormancy. There is an indication that JF comets with radii RN?3 km have active fractions f?0.01, which might be due to the rapid formation of insulating dust mantles on larger nuclei.  相似文献   

5.
The Wide Field Camera (WFC) on the Hubble Space Telescope and the Low Resolution Imaging Spectrograph (LRIS) on the Keck II telescope have been used to image 21 distant dynamically new, long-period (LP) and short-period (SP) Jupiter-family (JF) comet nuclei (near aphelion), as part of a long-term program to search for physical differences between short-period comets and Oort cloud comets. WFC data were obtained on Comets C/1987 H1 (Shoemaker) and C/1984 K1 (Shoemaker) during Cycle 5 (1995 December) and on C/1988 B1 (Shoemaker), C/1987 F1 (Torres), and C/1983 O1 (?ernis) during Cycle 6 (1997 April, May, and June). The HST comets were at heliocentric distances 20.4 < r[AU] < 29.5. Each comet observation was allocated 7 orbits, for ≈3.6 hrs of integration. The most difficult part of the image reduction was the removal of cosmic rays. We present our scheme for cosmic ray removal. None of the HST comet nuclei was detected to the 3-σ level at mR∼27. The inferred upper limits to the nucleus radii are . The SP comets range in radius between , with a median value of RN∼1.61 km. The LP comets ranged in size between <4.0-56 km. Over a range of radii between 1-10 km, the nuclei can be fit with a cumulative distribution N(>RN)∝RN−α with α=1.45±0.05, and for nuclei in the range 2-5 km, α=1.91±0.06. Statistical analysis and modeling shows that the slopes of the observed TNO and JF comet distributions are not compatible, suggesting that the intrinsic distribution of JF comet nuclei is a differential a−3.5 power law truncated at small nucleus radii between 0.3 and 2.0 km.  相似文献   

6.
We analyze the dynamical evolution of Jupiter-family (JF) comets and near-Earth asteroids (NEAs) with aphelion distances Q>3.5 AU, paying special attention to the problem of mixing of both populations, such that inactive comets may be disguised as NEAs. From numerical integrations for 2×106 years we find that the half lifetime (where the lifetime is defined against hyperbolic ejection or collision with the Sun or the planets) of near-Earth JF comets (perihelion distances q<1.3 AU) is about 1.5×105 years but that they spend only a small fraction of this time (∼ a few 103 years) with q<1.3 AU. From numerical integrations for 5×106 years we find that the half lifetime of NEAs in “cometary” orbits (defined as those with aphelion distances Q>4.5 AU, i.e., that approach or cross Jupiter's orbit) is 4.2×105 years, i.e., about three times longer than that for near-Earth JF comets. We also analyze the problem of decoupling JF comets from Jupiter to produce Encke-type comets. To this end we simulate the dynamical evolution of the sample of observed JF comets with the inclusion of nongravitational forces. While decoupling occurs very seldom when a purely gravitational motion is considered, the action of nongravitational forces (as strong as or greater than those acting on Encke) can produce a few Enckes. Furthermore, a few JF comets are transferred to low-eccentricity orbits entirely within the main asteroid belt (Q<4 AU and q>2 AU). The population of NEAs in cometary orbits is found to be adequately replenished with NEAs of smaller Q's diffusing outward, from which we can set an upper limit of ∼20% for the putative component of deactivated JF comets needed to maintain such a population in steady state. From this analysis, the upper limit for the average time that a JF comet in near-Earth orbit can spend as a dormant, asteroid-looking body can be estimated to be about 40% of the time spent as an active comet. More likely, JF comets in near-Earth orbits will disintegrate once (or shortly after) they end their active phases.  相似文献   

7.
We present the ensemble properties of 31 comets (27 resolved and 4 unresolved) observed by the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS). This sample of comets represents about 1 comet per 10 million SDSS photometric objects. Five-band (u, g, r, i, z) photometry is used to determine the comets’ colors, sizes, surface brightness profiles, and rates of dust production in terms of the Afρ formalism. We find that the cumulative luminosity function for the Jupiter Family Comets in our sample is well fit by a power law of the form N(<H) ∝ 10(0.49±0.05)H for H < 18, with evidence of a much shallower fit N(<H) ∝ 10(0.19±0.03)H for the faint (14.5 < H < 18) comets. The resolved comets show an extremely narrow distribution of colors (0.57 ± 0.05 in g ? r for example), which are statistically indistinguishable from that of the Jupiter Trojans. Further, there is no evidence of correlation between color and physical, dynamical, or observational parameters for the observed comets.  相似文献   

8.
We present the first observational measurement of the orbit and size distribution of small Solar System objects whose orbits are wholly interior to the Earth's (Inner Earth Objects, IEOs, with aphelion <0.983 AU). We show that we are able to model the detections of near-Earth objects (NEO) by the Catalina Sky Survey (CSS) using a detailed parameterization of the CSS survey cadence and detection efficiencies as implemented within the Jedicke et al. [Jedicke, R., Morbidelli, A., Spahr, T., Petit, J.M., Bottke, W.F., 2003. Icarus 161, 17-33] survey simulator and utilizing the Bottke et al. [Bottke, W.F., Morbidelli, A., Jedicke, R., Petit, J.-M., Levison, H.F., Michel, P., Metcalfe, T.S., 2002. Icarus 156, 399-433] model of the NEO population's size and orbit distribution. We then show that the CSS detections of 4 IEOs are consistent with the Bottke et al. [Bottke, W.F., Morbidelli, A., Jedicke, R., Petit, J.-M., Levison, H.F., Michel, P., Metcalfe, T.S., 2002. Icarus 156, 399-433] IEO model. Observational selection effects for the IEOs discovered by the CSS were then determined using the survey simulator in order to calculate the corrected number and H distribution of the IEOs. The actual number of IEOs with H<18 (21) is 36±26 (530±240) and the slope of the H magnitude distribution (∝10αH) for the IEOs is . The slope is consistent with previous measurements for the NEO population of αNEO=0.35±0.02 [Bottke, W.F., Morbidelli, A., Jedicke, R., Petit, J.-M., Levison, H.F., Michel, P., Metcalfe, T.S., 2002. Icarus 156, 399-433] and αNEO=0.39±0.013 [Stuart, J.S., Binzel, R.P., 2004. Icarus 170, 295-311]. Based on the agreement between the predicted and observed IEO orbit and absolute magnitude distributions there is no indication of any non-gravitational effects (e.g. Yarkovsky, tidal disruption) affecting the known IEO population.  相似文献   

9.
The first of a new class of objects now known as main belt comets (MBCs) or “activated asteroids” was identified in 1996. The seven known members of this class have orbital characteristics of main belt asteroids yet exhibit dust ejection like comets. In order to constrain their physical and orbital properties we searched the Thousand Asteroid Light Curve Survey (TALCS; Masiero, J.R., Jedicke, R., Durech, J., Gwyn, S., Denneau, L., Larsen, J. [2009]. Icarus 204, 145-171) for additional candidates using two diagnostics: tail and coma detection. This was the most sensitive MBC survey effort to date, extending the search from MBCs with H ∼ 18 (D ∼ 1 km) to MBCs as small as H ∼ 21 (D ∼ 150 m).We fit each of the 924 objects detected by TALCS to a PSF model incorporating both a coma and nuclear component to measure the fractional contribution of the coma to the total surface brightness. We determined the significance of the coma detection using the same algorithm on a sample of null detections of comparable magnitude and rate of motion. We did not identify any MBC candidates with this technique to a sensitivity limit on the order of cometary mass loss rate of about 0.1 kg/s.Our tail detection algorithm relied on identifying statistically significant flux in a segmented annulus around the candidate object. We show that the technique can detect tail activity throughout the asteroid belt to the level of the currently known MBCs. Although we did not identify any MBC candidates with this technique, we find a statistically significant detection of faint activity in the entire ensemble of TALCS asteroids. This suggests that many main belt asteroids are active at very low levels.Our null detection of MBCs allows us to set 90% upper confidence limits on the number distribution of MBCs as a function of absolute magnitude, semi-major axis, eccentricity, and inclination. There are ?400,000 MBCs in the main belt brighter than HV = 21 (∼150-m in diameter) and the MBC:MBA ratio is ?1:400.We further comment on the ability of observations to meaningfully constrain the snow line’s location. Under some reasonable and simple assumptions we claim 85% confidence that the contemporary snow line lies beyond 2.5 AU.  相似文献   

10.
T.Y Brooke  H.A Weaver  G Chin  S.J Kim 《Icarus》2003,166(1):167-187
High resolution infrared spectra of Comet C/1995 O1 (Hale-Bopp) were obtained during 2-5 March 1997 UT from the NASA Infrared Telescope Facility on Mauna Kea, Hawaii, when the comet was at r≈1.0 AU from the Sun pre-perihelion. Emission lines of CH4, C2H6, HCN, C2H2, CH3OH, H2O, CO, and OH were detected. The rotational temperature of CH4 in the inner coma was Trot=110±20 K. Spatial profiles of CH4, C2H6, and H2O were consistent with release solely from the nucleus. The centroid of the CO emission was offset from that of the dust continuum and H2O. Spatial profiles of the CO lines were much broader than those of the other molecules and asymmetric. We estimate the CO production rate using a simplified outflow model: constant, symmetric outflow from the peak position. A model of the excitation of CO that includes optical depth effects using an escape probability method is presented. Optical depth effects are not sufficient to explain the broad spatial extent. Using a parent+extended-source model, the broad extent of the CO lines can be explained by CO being produced mostly (∼90% on 5 March) from an extended source in the coma. The CO rotational temperature was near 100 K. Abundances relative to H2O (in percent) were 1.1±0.3 (CH4), 0.39±0.10 (C2H6), 0.18±0.04 (HCN), 0.17±0.04 (C2H2), 1.7±0.5 (CH3OH), and 37-41 (CO, parent+extended source). These are roughly comparable to those obtained for other long-period comets also observed in the infrared, though CO appears to vary.  相似文献   

11.
We present the characteristics of the dust comae of two comets, 126P/IRAS, a member of the Halley family (a near-isotropic comet), and 2P/Encke, an ecliptic comet. We have primarily used mid- and far-infrared data obtained by the ISOPHOT instrument aboard the Infrared Space Observatory (ISO) in 1996 and 1997, and mid-infrared data obtained by the SPIRIT III instrument aboard the Midcourse Space Experiment (MSX) in 1996. We find that the dust grains emitted by the two comets have markedly different thermal and physical properties. P/IRAS's dust grain size distribution appears to be similar to that of fellow family member 1P/Halley, with grains smaller than 5 microns dominating by surface area, whereas P/Encke emits a much higher fraction of big (20 μm and higher) grains, with the grain mass distribution being similar to that which is inferred for the interplanetary dust population. P/Encke's dearth of micron-scale grains accounts for its visible-wavelength classification as a “gassy” comet. These conclusions are based on analyses of both imaging and spectrophotometry of the two comets; this combination provides a powerful way to constrain cometary dust properties. Specifically, P/IRAS was observed preperihelion while 1.71 AU from the Sun, and seen to have a 15-arcmin long mid-infrared dust tail pointing in the antisolar direction. No sunward spike was seen despite the vantage point being nearly in the comet's orbital plane. The tail's total mass at the time was about 8×109 kg. The spectral energy distribution (SED) is best fit by a modified greybody with temperature T=265±15 K and emissivity ε proportional to a steep power law in wavelength λ: ε∝λ−α, where α=0.50±0.20(2σ). This temperature is elevated with respect to the expected equilibrium temperature for this heliocentric distance. The dust mass loss rate was between 150-600 kg/s (95% confidence), the dust-to-gas mass loss ratio was about 3.3, and the albedo of the dust was 0.15±0.03. Carbonaceous material is depleted in the comet's dust by a factor of 2-3, paralleling the C2 depletion in P/IRAS's gas coma. P/Encke, on the other hand, observed while 1.17 AU from the Sun, had an SED that is best fit by a Planck function with T=270±15 K and no emissivity falloff. The dust mass loss rate was 70-280 kg/s (95% confidence), the dust-to-gas mass loss ratio was about 2.3, and the albedo of the dust was about 0.06±0.02. These conclusions are consistent with the strongly curved dust tail and bright dust trail seen by Reach et al. (2000; Icarus 148, 80) in their ISO 12-μm imaging of P/Encke. The observed differences in the P/IRAS and P/Encke dust are most likely due to the less evolved and insolated state of the P/IRAS nuclear surface. If the dust emission behavior of P/Encke is typical of other ecliptic comets, then comets are the major supplier of the interplanetary dust cloud.  相似文献   

12.
Narrowband filter photometry observations of Comet Hyakutake (1996 B2) were used to investigate this comet's short-term variability as well as its behavior for the apparition as a whole. Utilizing measurements obtained on a total of 13 nights between February 9, 1996, and April 14, 1996, we find that the heliocentric distance (rH) dependence of the production rates of OH and NH were much shallower than those for either the carbon-bearing species or the visible dust. Based on the OH measurements, the derived water rH-dependence was also significantly less steep than expected from a basic water vaporization model and required an effective active surface area of about 29 km2 at rH=1.8 AU, 16 km2 at rH=1 AU, and only 13 km2 at rH=0.6 AU. This decrease in active area may be due to seasonally induced variations of a heterogeneous surface, or due to a decreasing contribution of gas from icy grains in the innermost coma. The relative abundances of the minor gas species place Hyakutake into the “typical” category of comets in the A'Hearn et al. (1995, Icarus118, 223-270) taxonomic classification system. The spectrum is generally redder at shorter wavelengths throughout the apparition; however, the dust color progressively changes from being significantly reddened (37%/1000 Å) at large rH to near-solar at small rH. This change of color with distance implies a significant change in grain sizes or a changing proportion between two or more grain populations.A major outburst was initiated near March 19.9, just prior to the comet's close approach to Earth. The characteristic recovery from the outburst differed among the observed species, with OH recovering most rapidly, essentially returning to its baseline values by March 25. The spatial radial fall-off of OH throughout this interval was consistent with the expected nominal spatial distribution, while CN and C2 displayed fall-offs consistent with a distributed source, and the dust fall-off was significantly less steep than 1/ρ, possibly due to fragmenting grains. Rotational lightcurve amplitudes were largest for the OH, NH, and dust, again consistent with the carbon-bearing species primarily originating from a distributed source. Significant variations were observed in the lightcurve amplitude and phase shifts as functions of aperture size. Finally, a refined value for the rotation period of 0.2614±0.0003 day was determined.  相似文献   

13.
For absolute magnitudes greater than the current completeness limit of H-magnitude ∼15 the main asteroid belt's size distribution is imperfectly known. We have acquired good-quality orbital and absolute H-magnitude determinations for a sample of small main-belt asteroids in order to study the orbital and size distribution beyond H=15, down to sub-kilometer sizes (H>18). Based on six observing nights over a 11-night baseline we have detected, measured photometry for, and linked observations of 1087 asteroids which have one-week time baselines or more. The linkages allow the computation of full heliocentric orbits (as opposed to statistical distances determined by some past surveys). Judged by known asteroids in the field the typical uncertainty in the (a/e/i) orbital elements is less than 0.03 AU/0.03/0.5°. The distances to the objects are sufficiently well known that photometric uncertainties (of 0.3 magnitudes or better) dominate the error budget of their derived H-magnitudes. The detected asteroids range from HR=12-22 and provide a set of objects down to sizes below 1 km in diameter. We find an on-sky surface density of 210 asteroids per square degree in the ecliptic with opposition magnitudes brighter than mR=23, with the cumulative number of asteroids increasing by a factor of 100.27/mag from mR=18 down to the mR?23.5 limit of our survey. In terms of absolute H magnitudes, we find that beyond H=15 the belt exhibits a constant power-law slope with the number increasing proportional to 100.30H from H?15 to 18, after which incompleteness begins in the survey. Examining only the subset of detections inside 2.5 AU, we find weak evidence for a mildly shallower slope for H=15-19.5. We provide the information necessary such that anyone wishing to model the main asteroid belt can compare a detailed model to our detected sample.  相似文献   

14.
Multiple non-resonance fluorescence lines of water (H2O) were detected in Comet 153/P Ikeya-Zhang (2002 C1) between UT 2002 March 21.9 (Rh=0.51 AU) and April 13.9 (Rh=0.78 AU), using the Cryogenic Echelle Spectrometer (CSHELL) at the NASA Infrared Telescope Facility. Analysis of 2.9-μm water lines enabled accurate determination of rotational temperatures on three dates. The derived H2O rotational temperatures were 138+6−5, 141+10−9, and 94±3 K on UT 2002 March 22.0, March 23.0, and April 13.8, respectively. Water production rates were retrieved from spectral lines measured in nineteen separate grating settings over seven observing periods. The derived heliocentric dependence of the water production rate was Q=(9.2±1.1)×1028[Rh(−3.21±0.26)] molecules s−1. The spatial distribution of H2O in the coma was consistent with its release directly from the nucleus (as a native source) on all dates.  相似文献   

15.
We have performed an ecliptic survey of the Kuiper belt, with an areal coverage of 8.9 square degrees to a 50% limiting magnitude of , and have detected 88 Kuiper belt objects, roughly half of which received follow-up 1–2 months after detection. Using this survey data alone, we have measured the luminosity function of the Kuiper belt, thus avoiding any biases that might come from the inclusion of other observations. We have found that the Cold population defined as having inclinations less than 5° has a luminosity function slope αCold = 0.82 ± 0.23, and is different from the Hot population, which has inclinations greater than 5° and a luminosity function slope αHot = 0.35 ± 0.21. As well, we have found that those objects closer than 38 AU have virtually the same luminosity function slope as the Hot population. This result, along with similar findings of past surveys demonstrates that the dynamically Cold Kuiper belt objects likely have a steep size distribution, and are unique from all of the excited populations which have much shallower distributions. This suggests that the dynamically excited population underwent a different accretion history and achieved a more evolved state of accretion than the Cold population. As well, we discuss the similarities of the Cold and Hot populations with the size distributions of other planetesimal populations. We find that while the Jupiter family comets and the scattered disk exhibit similar size distributions, a power-law extrapolation to small sizes for the scattered disk cannot account for the observed influx of comets. As well, we have found that the Jupiter Trojan and Hot populations cannot have originated from the same parent population, a result that is difficult to reconcile with scattering models similar to the NICE model. We conclude that the similarity between the size distributions of the Cold population and the Jupiter Trojan population is a striking coincidence.  相似文献   

16.
We study the Jupiter family comet (JFC) population assumed to come from the Scattered Disk and transferred to the Jupiter’s zone through gravitational interactions with the Jovian planets. We shall define as JFCs those with orbital periods and Tisserand parameters in the range 2<T?3.1, while those comets coming from the same source, but that do not fulfill the previous criteria (mainly because they have periods ) will be called ‘non-JFCs’. We performed a series of numerical simulations of fictitious comets with a purely dynamical model and also with a more complete dynamical-physical model that includes besides nongravitational forces, sublimation and splitting mechanisms. With the dynamical model, we obtain a poor match between the computed distributions of orbital elements and the observed ones. However with the inclusion of physical effects in the complete model we are able to obtain good fits to observations. The best fits are attained with four splitting models with a relative weak dependence on q, and a mass loss in every splitting event that is less when the frequency is high and vice versa. The mean lifetime of JFCs with radii and is found to be of about 150-200 revolutions (∼. The total population of JFCs with radii within Jupiter’s zone is found to be of 450±50. Yet, the population of non-JFCs with radii in Jupiter-crossing orbits may be ∼4 times greater, thus leading to a whole population of JFCs + non-JFCs of ∼2250±250. Most of these comets have perihelia close to Jupiter’s orbit. On the other hand, very few non-JFCs reach the Earth’s vicinity (perihelion distances ) which gives additional support to the idea that JFCs and Halley-type comets have different dynamical origins. Our model allows us to define the zones of the orbital element space in which we would expect to find a large number of JFCs. This is the first time, to our knowledge, that a physico-dynamical model is presented that includes sublimation and different splitting laws. Our work helps to understand the role played by these erosion effects in the distribution of the orbital elements and lifetimes of JFCs.  相似文献   

17.
A recently published model of the Near Earth Object (NEO) orbital-magnitude distribution (Bottke et al., 2002, Icarus156, 399-433.) relies on five intermediate sources for the NEO population: the ν6 resonance, the 3:1 resonance, the outer portion of the main belt (i.e., 2.8-3.5 AU), the Mars-crossing population adjacent to the main belt, and the Jupiter family comet population. The model establishes the relative contribution of these sources to the NEO population. By computing the albedo distribution of the bodies in and/or near each of the five sources, we can deduce the albedo distribution of the NEO population as a function of semimajor axis, eccentricity, and inclination. A problem with this strategy, however, is that we do not know a priori the albedo distribution of main belt asteroids over the same size range as observed NEOs (diameter D<10 km). To overcome this problem, we determined the albedo distribution of large asteroids in and/or near each NEO source region and used these results to deduce the albedo distribution of smaller asteroids in the same regions. This method requires that we make some assumptions about the absolute magnitude distributions of both asteroid families and background asteroids. Our solution was to extrapolate the observed absolute magnitude distributions of the families up to some threshold value Hthr, beyond which we assumed that the families' absolute magnitude distributions were background-like.We found that Hthr=14.5 provides the best match to the color vs heliocentric distance distribution observed by the Sloan Digital Sky Survey. With this value of Hthr our model predicts that the debiased ratio between dark and bright (albedo smaller or larger than 0.089) objects in any absolute-magnitude-limited sample of the NEO population is 0.25±0.02. Once the observational biases are properly taken into account, this agrees very well with the observed C/S ratio (0.165 for H<20). The dark/bright ratio of NEOs increases to 0.87±0.05 if a size-limited sample is considered. We estimate that the total number of NEOs larger than a kilometer is 855±110, which, compared to the total number of NEOs with H<18 (963±120), shows that the usually assumed conversion H=18?D=1 km slightly overestimates the number of kilometer-size objects.Combining our orbital distribution model with the new albedo distribution model, and assuming that the density of bright and dark bodies is 2.7 and 1.3 g/cm3, respectively, we estimate that the Earth should undergo a 1000 megaton collision every 63,000±8000 years. On average, the bodies capable of producing 1000 megaton of impact energy are those with H<20.6. The NEOs discovered so far carry only 18±2% of this collision probability.  相似文献   

18.
We obtain the size and orbital distributions of near-Earth asteroids (NEAs) that are expected to be in the 1 : 1 mean motion resonance with the Earth in a steady state scenario. We predict that the number of such objects with absolute magnitudes H<18 and H<22 is 0.65±0.12 and 16.3±3.0, respectively. We also map the distribution in the sky of these Earth coorbital NEAs and conclude that these objects are not easily observed as they are distributed over a large sky area and spend most of their time away from opposition where most of them are too faint to be detected.  相似文献   

19.
This study analyzes the evolution of 2 × 105 orbits with initial parameters corresponding to the orbits of comets of the Oort cloud under the action of planetary, galactic, and stellar perturbations over 2 × 109 years. The dynamical evolution of comets of the outer (orbital semimajor axes a > 104 AU) and inner (5 × 103 < a (AU) < 104) parts of the comet cloud is analyzed separately. The estimates of the flux of “new” and long-period comets for all perihelion distances q in the planetary region are reported. The flux of comets with a > 104 AU in the interval 15 AU < q < 31 AU is several times higher than the flux of comets in the region q < 15 AU. We point out the increased concentration of the perihelia of orbits of comets from the outer cloud, which have passed several times through the planetary system, in the Saturn-Uranus region. The maxima in the distribution of the perihelia of the orbits of comets of the inner Oort cloud are located in the Uranus-Neptune region. “New” comets moving in orbits with a < 2 × 104 AU and arriving at the outside of the planetary system (q > 25 AU) subsequently have a greater number of returns to the region q < 35 AU. The perihelia of the orbits of these comets gradually drift toward the interior of the Solar System and accumulate beyond the orbit of Saturn. The distribution of the perihelia of long-period comets beyond the orbit of Saturn exhibits a peak. We discuss the problem of replenishing the outer Oort cloud by comets from the inner part and their subsequent dynamical evolution. The annual rate of passages of comets of the inner cloud, which replenish the outer cloud, in the region q < 1 AU in orbits with a > 104 AU (～ 5.0 × 10?14 yr?1) is one order of magnitude lower than the rate of passage of comets from the outer Oort cloud (～ 9.1 × 10?13 yr?1).  相似文献   

20.
Ignacio Ferrín 《Icarus》2006,185(2):523-543
We present the secular light curve (SLC) of 133P/Elst-Pizarro, and show ample and sufficient evidence to conclude that it is evolving into a dormant phase. The SLC provides a great deal of information to characterize the object, the most important being that it exhibits outburst-like activity without a corresponding detectable coma. 133P will return to perihelion in July of 2007 when some of our findings may be corroborated. The most significant findings of this investigation are: (1) We have compiled from 127 literature references, extensive databases of visual colors (37 comets), rotational periods and peak-to-valley amplitudes (64 comets). 2-Dimensional plots are created from these databases, which show that comets do not lie on a linear trend but in well defined areas of these phase spaces. When 133P is plotted in the above diagrams, its location is entirely compatible with those of comets. (2) A positive correlation is found between cometary rotational periods and diameters. One possible interpretation suggest the existence of rotational evolution predicted by several theoretical models. (3) A plot of the historical evolution of cometary nuclei density estimates shows no trend with time, suggesting that perhaps a consensus is being reached. We also find a mean bulk density for comets of 〈ρ〉=0.52±0.06 g/cm3. This value includes the recently determined spacecraft density of Comet 9P/Tempel 1, derived by the Deep Impact team. (4) We have derived values for over 18 physical parameters, listed in the SLC plots, Figs. 6-9. (5) The secular light curve of 133P/Elst-Pizarro exhibits a single outburst starting at +42±4 d (after perihelion), peaking at LAG=+155±10 d, duration 191±11 d, and amplitude 2.3±0.2 mag. These properties are compatible with those of other low activity comets. (6) To explain the large time delay in maximum brightness, LAG, two hypothesis are advanced: (a) the existence of a deep ice layer that the thermal wave has to reach before sublimation is possible, or (b) the existence of a sharp polar active region pointing to the Sun at time = LAG, that may take the form of a polar ice cap, a polar fissure or even a polar crater. The diameter of this zone is calculated at ∼1.8 km. (7) A new time-age is defined and it its found that T-AGE = 80 cy for 133P, a moderately old comet. (8) We propose that the object has its origin in the main belt of asteroids, thus being an asteroid-comet hybrid transition object, an asteroidal belt comet (ABC), proven by its large density. (9) Concerning the final evolutionary state of this object, to be a truly extinct comet the radius must be less than the thermal wave depth, which at 1 AU is ∼250 m (at the perihelion distance of 133P the thermal wave penetrates only ∼130 m). Comets with radius larger than this value cannot become extinct but dormant. Thus we conclude that 133P cannot evolve into a truly extinct comet because it has too large a diameter. Instead it is shown to be entering a dormant phase. (10) We predict the existence of truly extinct comets in the main belt of asteroids (MBA) beginning at absolute magnitude ∼21.5 (diameter smaller than ∼190 m). (11) The object demonstrates that a comet may have an outburst of ∼2.3 mag, and not show any detectable coma. (12) Departure from a photometric R+2 law is a more sensitive method (by a factor of 10) to detect activity than star profile fitting or spectroscopy. (13) Sufficient evidence is presented to conclude that 133P is the first member of a new class of objects, an old asteroidal belt comet, ABC, entering a dormant phase.  相似文献   

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