HCN observations of comets C/2013 R1 (Lovejoy) and C/2014 Q2 (Lovejoy)
Journal article, 2016

HCN J = 1-0 emission from the long-period comet C/2013 R1 (Lovejoy) was observed from the Onsala Space Observatory on multiple occasions during the month before its perihelion passage on December 22, 2013. We report detections for seven different dates, spanning heliocentric distances (Rh) decreasing from 0.94 to 0.82 au. Estimated HCN production rates are generally higher than previously reported for the same time period, but the implied increase in production rate with heliocentric distance, QHCN Rh -3.2, represent well the overall documented increase since it was first observed at Rh = 1.35. The implied mean HCN abundance relative to water in R1 Lovejoy is 0.2%. We also report on a detection of HCN with the new 3 mm receiver system at Onsala Space Observatory in comet C/2014 Q2 (Lovejoy) on January 14, 2015, when its heliocentric distance was 1.3 au. Relative to comet C/2013 R1 (Lovejoy), the HCN production rate of C/2014 Q2 (Lovejoy) was more than 5 times higher at similar heliocentric distances, and the implied HCN abundance relative to water 0.09%.

Comets: individual: C/2013 R1 (Lovejoy)

Comets: general

Comets: individual: C/2014 Q2 (Lovejoy)

Radio lines: planetary systems

Author

Eva Wirström

Chalmers, Earth and Space Sciences, Radio Astronomy and Astrophysics

Mikael Lerner

Chalmers, Earth and Space Sciences, Onsala Space Observatory

Philip Källström

Student at Chalmers

Alexander Levinsson

Student at Chalmers

Astrid Olivefors

Student at Chalmers

Elin Tegehall

Student at Chalmers

Astronomy and Astrophysics

0004-6361 (ISSN) 1432-0746 (eISSN)

Vol. 588 Art. no. A72- A72

Subject Categories

Astronomy, Astrophysics and Cosmology

DOI

10.1051/0004-6361/201527482

More information

Latest update

11/12/2021