Comet P/Shoemaker-Levy 9 (1993e) was observed by the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) on 1993 July 1,... more Comet P/Shoemaker-Levy 9 (1993e) was observed by the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) on 1993 July 1, approximately three months after its discovery and approximately one year before its predicted impact into the atmosphere of Jupiter. Approximately 20 individual nuclei were observed in images taken with the Planetary Camera (PC). Each nucleus is surrounded by a roughly spherical coma, which is
ABSTRACT We have studied the continuum emission in spectra of 18 comets. We find that the gas-to-... more ABSTRACT We have studied the continuum emission in spectra of 18 comets. We find that the gas-to-dust ratio (GDR) increases with increasing activity (as measured by the production of CN). This may be explained by having dust production depend on the gas production raised to the 0.55 ± 0.17 power (1σ error). We interpret this to indicate that cometary gas production in the range of heliocentric distances (and gas production rates) for which we have data, is primarily through a porous mantle. Approximately equal numbers of comets show changes in continuum brightness with distance from the optocenter equal to, or significantly slower than, the canonical (distance)−1 falloff. All continua were red compared to the solar spectrum, with an average reddening of 22% per 1000 Å (between 4400 and 5700 Å). There is some evidence for a change in the slope of the continuum with distance from the optocenter in some comets. Trends in these observables throughout the apparition of each comet are discussed, and comparisons among comets are made.
We present a lightcurve of type I supernova 2011fe, made with the Towson University 0.4m telescop... more We present a lightcurve of type I supernova 2011fe, made with the Towson University 0.4m telescope. The supernova was observed for over a year after it was detected (August 24 2011: Nugent et. al, CBET 002792) and was monitored regularly through September 2012. At this point it had faded so much as to be undetectable in the “R” band although it could still be detected in the “G” and “B” bands, showing how extreme the color change over this period was. The system is much more sensitive in the “R” band. Observations of this sort are ideal for small observatories. Even from our urban environment we continued to monitor the supernova as it faded by over six magnitudes from discovery. In addition to the scientific usefulness of the observations, they are a proof of concept for the technique of observing with high frequency position correction (to minimize spatial blur) and filter selection (to avoid night sky lines). These techniques allow our urban observatory to obtain scientifically u...
Title: Synoptic Observations of 134340 Pluto from the Hubble Space Telescope. Authors: Storrs,Ale... more Title: Synoptic Observations of 134340 Pluto from the Hubble Space Telescope. Authors: Storrs,Alex; Eney, B. Affiliation: AA(Towson University), AB(Towson University). ... References: Conan, J.-M., T. Fusco, L. Mugnier, F. Marchis, C. Roddier, F. Roddier 2000. ...
We present an analysis of pre and post instruction instruments in a basic astronomy course. This ... more We present an analysis of pre and post instruction instruments in a basic astronomy course. This analysis is built on the Light and Spectroscopy Concept Inventory (LSCI, Bardar et al. 2007). In addition to assessing our student's gain in knowledge of this fundamental topic, we have added some demographic questions. While the primary purpose is to compare the gain in knowledge during a semester of instruction to changes in instruction, we also look at the demographics of students who take the pretest but not the posttest. These students are usually excluded from this type of analysis. We look for trends in the demographic information among students who drop the course, and suggest ways to make the course more palatable. References: Bardar et al., 2007: "Development and Validation of the Light and Spectroscopy Concept Inventory", Astr. Ed. Rev. 5(2), 103-113
The development of the CO(+) coma of Comet P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1 is studied in spectroscopic o... more The development of the CO(+) coma of Comet P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1 is studied in spectroscopic observations indicating that the maximum rise time of the CO(+) gas is 1.2 days. This result implies a maximum creation time-scale for the CO(+) gas of the order of 100,000 sec at 5.8 AU. Evidence is adduced that dust events and gas events observed in this comet are not necessarily connected.
We have obtained 39 HST (PC2) images of Neptune, Triton and inner moons in three HST orbits: two ... more We have obtained 39 HST (PC2) images of Neptune, Triton and inner moons in three HST orbits: two on 3 July, one on 6 July 1997. Of the six inner satellites discovered by Voyager 2, the four outer ones were recovered, as expected, and near their ephemeris ...
... Tirtha Pratim Das, P. Sreelatha, P. Pradeepkumar, Neha Naik and Gogulapati Supriya (2010): &q... more ... Tirtha Pratim Das, P. Sreelatha, P. Pradeepkumar, Neha Naik and Gogulapati Supriya (2010): "`Direct' evidence for water (H 2 O) in the sunlit lunar ambience from CHACE on MIP of Chandrayaan I", Planetary and Space Science Volume 58, Issue 6, May 2010, Pages 947-950.
Comet P/Shoemaker-Levy 9 (1993e) was observed by the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) on 1993 July 1,... more Comet P/Shoemaker-Levy 9 (1993e) was observed by the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) on 1993 July 1, approximately three months after its discovery and approximately one year before its predicted impact into the atmosphere of Jupiter. Approximately 20 individual nuclei were observed in images taken with the Planetary Camera (PC). Each nucleus is surrounded by a roughly spherical coma, which is
ABSTRACT We have studied the continuum emission in spectra of 18 comets. We find that the gas-to-... more ABSTRACT We have studied the continuum emission in spectra of 18 comets. We find that the gas-to-dust ratio (GDR) increases with increasing activity (as measured by the production of CN). This may be explained by having dust production depend on the gas production raised to the 0.55 ± 0.17 power (1σ error). We interpret this to indicate that cometary gas production in the range of heliocentric distances (and gas production rates) for which we have data, is primarily through a porous mantle. Approximately equal numbers of comets show changes in continuum brightness with distance from the optocenter equal to, or significantly slower than, the canonical (distance)−1 falloff. All continua were red compared to the solar spectrum, with an average reddening of 22% per 1000 Å (between 4400 and 5700 Å). There is some evidence for a change in the slope of the continuum with distance from the optocenter in some comets. Trends in these observables throughout the apparition of each comet are discussed, and comparisons among comets are made.
We present a lightcurve of type I supernova 2011fe, made with the Towson University 0.4m telescop... more We present a lightcurve of type I supernova 2011fe, made with the Towson University 0.4m telescope. The supernova was observed for over a year after it was detected (August 24 2011: Nugent et. al, CBET 002792) and was monitored regularly through September 2012. At this point it had faded so much as to be undetectable in the “R” band although it could still be detected in the “G” and “B” bands, showing how extreme the color change over this period was. The system is much more sensitive in the “R” band. Observations of this sort are ideal for small observatories. Even from our urban environment we continued to monitor the supernova as it faded by over six magnitudes from discovery. In addition to the scientific usefulness of the observations, they are a proof of concept for the technique of observing with high frequency position correction (to minimize spatial blur) and filter selection (to avoid night sky lines). These techniques allow our urban observatory to obtain scientifically u...
Title: Synoptic Observations of 134340 Pluto from the Hubble Space Telescope. Authors: Storrs,Ale... more Title: Synoptic Observations of 134340 Pluto from the Hubble Space Telescope. Authors: Storrs,Alex; Eney, B. Affiliation: AA(Towson University), AB(Towson University). ... References: Conan, J.-M., T. Fusco, L. Mugnier, F. Marchis, C. Roddier, F. Roddier 2000. ...
We present an analysis of pre and post instruction instruments in a basic astronomy course. This ... more We present an analysis of pre and post instruction instruments in a basic astronomy course. This analysis is built on the Light and Spectroscopy Concept Inventory (LSCI, Bardar et al. 2007). In addition to assessing our student's gain in knowledge of this fundamental topic, we have added some demographic questions. While the primary purpose is to compare the gain in knowledge during a semester of instruction to changes in instruction, we also look at the demographics of students who take the pretest but not the posttest. These students are usually excluded from this type of analysis. We look for trends in the demographic information among students who drop the course, and suggest ways to make the course more palatable. References: Bardar et al., 2007: "Development and Validation of the Light and Spectroscopy Concept Inventory", Astr. Ed. Rev. 5(2), 103-113
The development of the CO(+) coma of Comet P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1 is studied in spectroscopic o... more The development of the CO(+) coma of Comet P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1 is studied in spectroscopic observations indicating that the maximum rise time of the CO(+) gas is 1.2 days. This result implies a maximum creation time-scale for the CO(+) gas of the order of 100,000 sec at 5.8 AU. Evidence is adduced that dust events and gas events observed in this comet are not necessarily connected.
We have obtained 39 HST (PC2) images of Neptune, Triton and inner moons in three HST orbits: two ... more We have obtained 39 HST (PC2) images of Neptune, Triton and inner moons in three HST orbits: two on 3 July, one on 6 July 1997. Of the six inner satellites discovered by Voyager 2, the four outer ones were recovered, as expected, and near their ephemeris ...
... Tirtha Pratim Das, P. Sreelatha, P. Pradeepkumar, Neha Naik and Gogulapati Supriya (2010): &q... more ... Tirtha Pratim Das, P. Sreelatha, P. Pradeepkumar, Neha Naik and Gogulapati Supriya (2010): "`Direct' evidence for water (H 2 O) in the sunlit lunar ambience from CHACE on MIP of Chandrayaan I", Planetary and Space Science Volume 58, Issue 6, May 2010, Pages 947-950.
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