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K. J. Meech, A. Delsanti, L. Dundon, Y. Fernandez, N. Moskovitz (IFA), J. Pittichova (IfA, Slovak Acad. Sci.), F. Vilas (NASA Johnson Space Ctr.), N. B. Suntzeff (CTIO), P. Seitzer (U. Mich)
We will report on observations using the 4m, 1.5m, Schmidt, and 0.9m telescopes along with the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope on Mauna Kea for simultaneous multi-wavelength (RIJHK) imaging of the dust coma. Data were be obtained pre- impact to establish the ambient conditions, during impact and post-impact from a few hours to 2 days and 1 week later to watch the dust evolution. A bright impact flash was not observed, rather the light curve brightness increased during the hour following impact. Using light curves generated through different apertures we estimate that the ejecta was traveling at approximately 200 m/s as projected on the sky. Dust dynamical models will be used to infer grain size and velocity distributions at each epoch. We will search for differences between the pre-impact dust (from the more evolved comet surface layers) and the post-impact dust excavated from the interior.
Support for this work was provided through University of Maryland and University of Hawaii subcontract Z667702, which was awarded under prime contract NASW-00004 from NASA.
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Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, 37 #3
© 2004. The American Astronomical Soceity.