Abstract
view Abstract Citations (23) References (27) Co-Reads Similar Papers Volume Content Graphics Metrics Export Citation NASA/ADS Sodium D-line emission in comet West (1975n) and the sodium source in comets. Oppenheimer, M. Abstract A spectrum of the sodium D-line emission from Comet West (1975n) taken at heliocentric distance 1.4 AU is analyzed by comparing the D-line brightness to that in the underlying continuum. Using the observations of this comet by Ney and Merrill, it is found that the dust grains which dominate the visible and infrared continua are too cool to provide the observed sodium atoms through evaporation of sodium metal or a sodium compound from grain surfaces. Though sodium metal may evaporate from a small-grain component, it is suggested that molecules embedded in the volatile nuclear matrix are a more plausible source of sodium. The relationship between this source and the interstellar sodium abundance is discussed. Publication: The Astrophysical Journal Pub Date: September 1980 DOI: 10.1086/158305 Bibcode: 1980ApJ...240..923O Keywords: Astronomical Spectroscopy; D Lines; Sodium; West Comet; Abundance; Cosmic Dust; Emission Spectra; Grains; COMETS; WEST COMET; SODIUM; SOURCE MEDIUM; EMISSIONS; SPECTRUM; ANALYSIS; DUST; GRAINS; WAVELENGTHS; EVAPORATION; OBSERVATIONS; DATA; PHOTODISSOCIATION; VOLATILE ELEMENTS; ABUNDANCE; INTENSITY; INFRARED; LIGHT (VISIBLE RADIATION); SCATTERING; TEMPERATURES; MODELS; Astrophysics; Comets; Comet 1976 VI West; Comets:Sodium full text sources ADS |
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
