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- Meech, K. J., et al.
(author)
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EPOXI: Comet 103P/Hartley 2 Observations from a Worldwide Campaign
- 2011
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In: Astrophysical Journal Letters. - London : IOP. - 2041-8213 .- 2041-8205. ; 734:L1, s. 1-9
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Earth- and space-based observations provide synergistic information for space mission encounters by providing data over longer timescales, at different wavelengths and using techniques that are impossible with an in situ flyby. We report here such observations in support of the EPOXI spacecraft flyby of comet 103P/Hartley 2. The nucleus is small and dark, and exhibited a very rapidly changing rotation period. Prior to the onset of activity, the period was ~16.4?hr. Starting in 2010 August the period changed from 16.6?hr to near 19?hr in December. With respect to dust composition, most volatiles and carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios, the comet is similar to other Jupiter-family comets. What is unusual is the dominance of CO 2 -driven activity near perihelion, which likely persists out to aphelion. Near perihelion the comet nucleus was surrounded by a large halo of water-ice grains that contributed significantly to the total water production.
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- Oliva, E., et al.
(author)
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Concept and optical design of the cross-disperser module for CRIRES
- 2014
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In: GROUND-BASED AND AIRBORNE INSTRUMENTATION FOR ASTRONOMY V. - : SPIE. - 9780819496157
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Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- CRIRES, the ESO high resolution infrared spectrometer, is a unique instrument which allows astronomers to access a parameter space which up to now was largely uncharted. In its current setup, it consists of a single-order spectrograph providing long-slit, single-order spectroscopy with resolving power up to R=100,000 over a quite narrow spectral range. This has resulted in sub-optimal efficiency and use of telescope time for all the scientific programs requiring broad spectral coverage of compact objects (e.g. chemical abundances of stars and intergalactic medium, search and characterization of extra-solar planets). To overcome these limitations, a consortium was set-up for upgrading CRIRES to a cross-dispersed spectrometer, called CRIRES+. This paper presents the updated optical design of the cross-dispersion module for CRIRES+. This new module can be mounted in place of the current pre-disperser unit. The new system yields a factor of >10 increase in simultaneous spectral coverage and maintains a quite long slit (10"), ideal for observations of extended sources and for precise sky-background subtraction.
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- Oliva, E., et al.
(author)
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Upgrading CRIRES-VLT to cross-dispersed mode
- 2012
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In: Proceedings of SPIE. - : SPIE. - 9780819491473
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Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The cryogenic high resolution IR echelle spectrograph CRIRES is the ESO infrared (0.95-5.4 μm) high resolution spectrograph operating at the Nasmyth A focus of VLT-UT1. The instrument provides long-slit (31″) spectroscopy with resolving power up to R=100,000 over a quite narrow wavelengths range, about 1/70 of the central wavelength. Observations of compact objects (e.g. stellar photospheres) could be made much more efficient by implementing a cross-dispersed mode, which increases the simultaneous spectral coverage by an order of magnitude or more. This paper presents the design of a relatively simple system to add cross-dispersed modes to CRIRES with a minimum impact on the instrument optics and mechanics.
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