A HERSCHEL STUDY OF D/H IN WATER IN THE JUPITER-FAMILY COMET 45P/HONDA-MRKOS-PAJDUSAKOVA AND PROSPECTS FOR D/H MEASUREMENTS WITH CCAT

Journal Article · Sun Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 2013 · Astrophysical Journal Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1088/2041-8205/774/1/L3· OSTI ID:22136555

Lis, D. C.; Blake, G. A. ^[1]; Biver, N.; Bockelee-Morvan, D.; Crovisier, J.; others, and

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1. California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125 (United States)

We present Herschel observations of water isotopologues in the atmosphere of the Jupiter-family comet 45P/Honda-Mrkos-Pajdusakova. No HDO emission is detected, with a 3{sigma} upper limit of 2.0 Multiplication-Sign 10{sup -4} for the D/H ratio. This value is consistent with the earlier Herschel measurement in the Jupiter-family comet 103P/Hartley 2. The canonical value of 3 Multiplication-Sign 10{sup -4} measured pre-Herschel in a sample of Oort-cloud comets can be excluded at a 4.5{sigma} level. The observations presented here further confirm that a diversity of D/H ratios exists in the comet population and emphasize the need for additional measurements with future ground-based facilities, such as CCAT, in the post-Herschel era.

• OSTI ID: 22136555
• Journal Information: Astrophysical Journal Letters, Vol. 774, Issue 1; Other Information: Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 2041-8205
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

79 ASTROPHYSICS
COSMOLOGY AND ASTRONOMY
COMETS
DATA
EMISSION
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
PLANETARY ATMOSPHERES
WATER