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Spitzer 6/13/13. Mercury. Gas. Dust. Sol. Mars. HST 4/10/13. Jet?. Ice. Earth. Dust. The Scientific Importance of Comet C/2012 S1 (ISON). First passage of comet through inner solar system since formation and ejection - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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MercuryMars
Earth
• First passage of comet through inner solar system since formation and ejection- Likely contains some of the most pristine material left in the solar system- Detailed orbital knowledge for an Oort comet perturbed many Mya to into inner system
• On a Sungrazing Orbit, with > 1 yr lead time since discovery- Perihelion on Nov 28, 2013 at rh = 2.7 RSun, so close all dust & gas will atomize
• ISON will have close encounters with Mars (C.A. = 0.07 AU), Mercury (C.A. = 0.24 AU), Sol, Earth(?) (C.A. = 0.44AU), & Venus (C.A.=0.42 AU) in 2013.
• The last time(s) this happened, in 1965 with Comet Ikeya-Seki, we observed one of the 10 brightest comets ever as it disintegrated at the Sun; and in 1973, when Comet Kohoutek mysteriously bloomed in the outer S.S. then faded away. But now we have > 18 s/c at Mars, Venus, Mercury, Earth, and others watching the Sun 24/7, that can study ISON.
The Scientific Importance of Comet C/2012 S1 (ISON)
Earth
Sol
Spitzer 6/13/13
Dust Gas
HST 4/10/13
Dust
Ice Jet?