Elsevier

Icarus

Volume 84, Issue 1, March 1990, Pages 154-165
Icarus

Comet Halley O(1D) and H2O production rates

https://doi.org/10.1016/0019-1035(90)90163-4Get rights and content

Abstract

Ground-based observations of Comet Halley [OI]6300 were carried out using the Wisconsin dual-etalon Fabry-Perot spectrometer at the McMath solar telescope on Kitt Peak. The field of view diameter on the sky was approximately 7′ preperihelion and 10′ postperihelion. Spectral scans were acquired at a resolution of 0.2 Å, which was sufficient to resolve cometary [OI]6300 emission from nearby cometary NH2 and telluric [OI]6300 emissions. From these measurements, we determined the production rate Q(O(1D)). By taking into account photodissociation of H2O and OH as sources of O(1D), we find that the ratio Q(H2O)Q(O(1D)) is 6 and obtain Q(H2O) from our Q(O(1D)) measurements We compare our Q(H2O) results with measurements by other groups.

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    2

    Present address: Glassboro State College, Department of Physical Sciences, Glassboro, NJ 08028.

    1

    Visiting Astronomer, National Solar Observatory, National Optical Astronomy Observatories, which is operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc., under contract with the National Science Foundation.

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