scholarly journals Spectroscopic Observations of Solar System Objects: Pushing the Limits

1995 ◽  
Vol 167 ◽  
pp. 251-261
Author(s):  
Anita L. Cochran
Keyword(s):  
Solar System ◽  
Minor Planets ◽  
Spectroscopic Observations ◽  
Planetary Satellites ◽  
Solar System Objects ◽  
Spatially Extended

Targets within the solar system generally fall into one of two types: a) major planets (except Pluto) and our Moon; b) minor planets, comets, Pluto and planetary satellites. The first group is noteworthy for being reasonably bright. Most are also spatially extended. The inner planets never achieve large solar elongation. The second group comprises bodies which are generally faint. Comets are spatially extended. The minor planets and comets may be in orbits which are highly inclined or viewed at small solar elongations. Comets may even be in retrograde orbits. Planetary satellites may be bright or faint but suffer from being in the glare of the parent planet.

scholarly journals Solar System Objects in the HIPPARCOS Programme

1992 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. 398-398 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Bec-Borsenberger
Keyword(s):  
Solar System ◽  
Reference System ◽  
Minor Planets ◽  
Orbital Elements ◽  
La Palma ◽  
Planetary Satellites ◽  
Solar System Objects ◽  
Planets And Satellites ◽  
Input Catalogue ◽  
Right Ascension

AbstractForty eight minor planets and two planetary satellites have been retained in the Hipparcos programme. The observations of minor planets will be used to try to determine the dynamical equinox and the rotation of the Hipparcos reference system (S. Söderhjelm and Lindegren, 1982); they can be also used to determine some physical properties of minor planets. As for the observations of planetary satellites, they will allow to obtain accurate ephemendes of these objects and to improve those of the primary planets. The inclusion of minor planets and satellites in the observing programme raises very specific problems: owing to their motion, positions of these objects are given in the Input Catalogue using ephemerides; preparatory astrometric work needed for improving these ephemerides (ground-based observations and improvement of orbital elements) has been described in Bec-Borsenberger (1989, 1991a). To be sure that the ephemerides are sufficient to get the 1 arcsecond predictability needed for Hipparcos, a reduced programme of ground-based observations will last all along the Hipparcos campaign (with the automatic meridian circles of Bordeaux and La Palma observatories). Presently, an annual update is adequate in order to ensure this precision. The improved orbital elements and predicted ephemerides for years 1991 and 1992 are published (Bec-Borsenberger, 1990, 1991b): the residuals obtained from the last set of improved elements with the meridian observations made for the Hipparcos programme givermsin right ascension and declination between 0.19 and 0.38 arcsecond for all Hipparcos minor planets. Since the launch of Hipparcos, the two satellites have been observed and about a third of the minor planets of the programme have been found; the previsions allow to hope to observe this year about ten more minor planets.

scholarly journals Spectroscopy of Planetary Atmospheres and Surfaces with ISO

2002 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
pp. 607-610
Author(s):  
Bruno Bézard
Keyword(s):  
Solar System ◽  
Physical State ◽  
Planetary Atmospheres ◽  
Giant Planets ◽  
Upper Troposphere ◽  
Spectroscopic Observations ◽  
Solar System Objects ◽  
First Time

AbstractSpectroscopic observations of Solar-System objects with ISO provided a wealth of new and exciting results. Major findings relevant to planetary atmospheres and surfaces are presented here. Rotational lines of HD were observed for the first time in the four giant planets, yielding reliable determinations of the D/H ratio. The14N/15N ratio could also be measured in the upper troposphere of Jupiter. Many new hydrocarbons were detected in the giant planets, improving our understanding of the methane photochemistry. In addition, oxygen compounds (H2O and CO2) were detected in their upper atmospheres and in Titan, pointing to exogenic sources of oxygen. Many bands of SO2ice were observed on Io, providing information on the physical state of this volcanic compound on the surface. Finally, spectra of Mars revealed the presence of a few so-far undetected mineralogical features, tentatively attributed to carbonates.

Data from Catalogues of Solar System Objects in Education

2015 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 40-53
Author(s):  
Ota Kéhar
Keyword(s):  
Solar System ◽  
Secondary School ◽  
Web Pages ◽  
Minor Planets ◽  
Current Position ◽  
School Students ◽  
Basic Procedure ◽  
Solar System Objects ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Kirkwood Gap

Abstract This contribution contains attractive examples that use catalogues of astronomical objects available at Astronomia web pages (astronomia.zcu.cz) to improve the teaching of selected astronomical topics. The main focus is to Solar system objects, list of numbered minor planets is used to demonstrate the current position of objects in the Solar system, to construct a Kirkwood gap graph or to interactively verify Kepler’s laws. I put emphasis on involving students in practical activities, so the results of my research are several worksheets. All worksheets include basic procedure. Each part of worksheet is complemented by sub-questions that deepen knowledge of students and it provides welcomed feedback for teacher. All these features are available as online applications on web pages and it can be used during ICT lessons. I tried worksheets on a significant sample of secondary school pupils and university students. As a result I discovered that students usually do not have possibility to solve this kind of exercise (using data from catalog of astronomical objects) at school. Students cannot handle basic transactions in the Excel spreadsheet, especially inserting formulas into cells, data sorting or constructing a simple chart.

scholarly journals Solar system objects observed by Hipparcos

1996 ◽  
Vol 172 ◽  
pp. 437-442
Author(s):  
D. Hestroffer ◽  
B. Morando
Keyword(s):  
Solar System ◽  
Reference Frame ◽  
Minor Planets ◽  
Solar System Objects ◽  
Normal Place ◽  
Natural Satellites

The ESA satellite Hipparcos provides valuable photometric and astrometric results on minor planets and natural satellites. Observations of 48 asteroids, JII-Europa, S VI-Titan and S VIII-Iapetus were made from November 1989 to March 1993. A twenty seconds averaged normal place is constructed, providing thus positions accurate to a few hundredths of arcseconds and relative to a very precise and homogeneous reference frame.

scholarly journals The Field-Widened SHS: An Extremely High etendue, Unscanned, Michelson-Based Spectrometer

1995 ◽  
Vol 149 ◽  
pp. 336-337
Author(s):  
John Harlander ◽  
F. L. Roesler ◽  
R. J. Reynolds
Keyword(s):  
Fourier Transform ◽  
Solar System ◽  
Interstellar Medium ◽  
Spectroscopic Studies ◽  
Resolving Power ◽  
Fourier Transform Spectrometer ◽  
Space Applications ◽  
Heterodyne Spectroscopy ◽  
Solar System Objects ◽  
Spatially Extended

AbstractThis poster described a method under development that promises to be useful for 3-D spectroscopic studies of extremely faint, spatially extended astronomical sources. The method, which we call Spatial Heterodyne Spectroscopy (SHS), is a relative of the conventional scanning Fourier Transform Spectrometer (FTS), but is free of any scanning elements. We foresee ground-based and space applications for studies of the interstellar medium and the upper atmospheres of solar system objects. Basic configurations that have been tested in the laboratory were described. The SHS instrument we are currently emphasizing for development is intended for a rocket experiment to measure C IV λ1548,51 doublet emission at a resolving power of 20,000 from the hot ISM. Eventually we hope to provide velocity-resolved all-sky maps of selected FUV lines to complement maps obtained at other wavelengths.

scholarly journals Solar System Occultation Predictions Using Automated Microdensitometry Techniques

1979 ◽  
Vol 81 ◽  
pp. 151-156
Author(s):  
P. J. Shelus ◽  
G. F. Benedict
Keyword(s):  
Solar System ◽  
Automated System ◽  
Minor Planets ◽  
The Past ◽  
Solar System Objects ◽  
Computer Controlled ◽  
Astronomical Research ◽  
Natural Satellites ◽  
Star Catalogs ◽  
Observing Systems

The development of automatic, computer-controlled, electronic equipment, under the direction of an intelligent user, has significantly affected the output of scientific knowledge from astronomical research. This increased output is as much a result of the easing and/or elimination of heretofore tedious tasks as it is a result of vast increases in data acquisition rates via observing systems which make more efficient use of in-coming electromagnetic radiation. One such automated system (Shelus et al, 1977) has been implemented by the present authors to predict occultations of stars by Solar System objects. In the past these predictions have been a time consuming task which was made even more onerous since only a very few observable phenomena were found. Perhaps of even more importance is that, since candidate objects to be occulted typically were obtained from star catalogs, such a search was incomplete. Note that phenomena involving stars fainter than normal catalog limits are certainly relevant in the cases of Uranus, Neptune, Pluto, minor planets and the natural satellites of the major planets.

scholarly journals COMMISSION 20: POSITIONS AND MOTIONS OF MINOR PLANETS, COMETS AND SATELLITES

2008 ◽  
Vol 4 (T27A) ◽  
pp. 169-170
Author(s):  
Julio A. Fernández ◽  
Makoto Yoshikawa ◽  
Giovanni B. Valsecchi ◽  
Steven R. Chesley ◽  
Yulia A. Chernetenko ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Solar System ◽  
Working Group ◽  
Precise Definition ◽  
Minor Planets ◽  
Solar System Objects ◽  
Set Up ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Lost Object

Commission 20 has been involved in the discussion on discovery credit rules of solar system objects (mainly concerned with asteroids) in particular with the role played by dynamicists in recovering objects by linking their orbits with previous apparitions. A working group was set up to discuss the issue that was integrated by professional astronomers as well as amateurs. There was some exchange of opinions and conflicting views, but the trend of the majority was to keep the discovery credit for the discoverer whose observations led to the object's principal designation, as expressed in the MPC existing rules (see <cfa-www.harvard.edu/iau/info/HowNamed.html>), considering only exceptionally credit for dynamicists when linkage of different apparitions led to the recovery of a lost object. The precise definition of non-trivial linkage should be worked out, and for the time being, the idea is to keep the existing MPC rules and, if necessary, to improve them, rather than starting a new set of rules.

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