Fabry-Perot observations of NH2 emission from Comet Halley

Journal Article · Tue Oct 31 23:00:00 EST 1989 · Icarus; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0019-1035(89)90022-5· OSTI ID:7143400

Magee-Sauer, K; Scherb, F; Roesler, F L; Harlander, J; Lutz, B L ^[1]

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1. Wisconsin, Univ., Madison (USA) Lowell Observatory, Flagstaff, AZ (USA)

The (0,8,0) cometary NH2 band lines have been isolated from both cometary and terrestrial OI 6300 A OH emissions in Fabry-Perot spectra of the emissions of Comet Halley near 6300 A. On the assumption that the major source of NH2 is NH3, these NH2 measurements limit NH3's abundance relative to H2O. The results thus obtained are noted to depend on the NH2 (0,8,0) band fluorescence efficiency factor g(B); using the g(B) value of A'Hearn (1982), the NH3 abundance is found to be about 0.1 percent of that of H2O, while the g(B) value of Tegler and Wyckoff (1989) yields a figure of 0.4 percent. Both results indicate a low NH3 abundance relative to water on Comet Halley. 30 refs.

• OSTI ID: 7143400
• Journal Information: Icarus; (USA), Journal Name: Icarus; (USA) Vol. 82; ISSN ICRSA; ISSN 0019-1035
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640107* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Planetary Phenomena
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ABUNDANCE
AMMONIA
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COMETS
ELEMENT ABUNDANCE
EMISSION SPECTRA
HALLEY COMET
HYDRIDES
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
MOLECULES
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NITROGEN HYDRIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
RADICALS
SPECTRA
VISIBLE SPECTRA
WATER