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Infrared molecular emissions from cometsThe possibility of detecting IR molecular line emission from cometary parent molecules is explored. Due to the non-LTE conditions in the inner coma and the large amount of near IR solar flux, IR fluorescence will be a significant source of cometary emission and, in fact, will dominate the grain radiation in a sufficiently high resolution instrument. The detection of this line emission will be difficult due to absorption in the terrestrial atmosphere, but it appears possible to measure cometary H2O emission from airplane altitudes. As IR molecular line emission represents one of the few promising methods of detecting cometary parent molecules directly, further research on this problem should be vigorously pursued.
Document ID
19830022073
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Technical Memorandum (TM)
Authors
Weaver, H. A. (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Mumma, M. J. (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Date Acquired
September 4, 2013
Publication Date
July 1, 1983
Subject Category
Lunar And Planetary Exploration
Report/Patent Number
NASA-TM-85067
NAS 1.15:85067
Accession Number
83N30344
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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