Analysis of the Pioneer-Venus Lyman-α Image of the Hydrogen Coma of Comet P/Halley

Comet Halley passed within 0.27 astronomical unit of Venus on 4 February 1986, 5 days before perihelion. This provided a unique opportunity to observe the comet's coma with the ultraviolet spectrometer orbiting the planet aboard the Pioneer Venus Orbiter spacecraft when the coma was otherwise o...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) 1991-08, Vol.253 (5023), p.1008-1010
Main Authors: Smyth, William H., Combi, Michael R., Stewart, A. I. F.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Astronomy
Atoms
Cometary comas
Comets
Earth, ocean, space
Exact sciences and technology
Halley's comet
Hydrogen
Interplanetary space
Modeling
Solar orbits
Solar system
Spacecraft
Spacecraft orbits
Spectra
Sun
Venus
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Summary:Comet Halley passed within 0.27 astronomical unit of Venus on 4 February 1986, 5 days before perihelion. This provided a unique opportunity to observe the comet's coma with the ultraviolet spectrometer orbiting the planet aboard the Pioneer Venus Orbiter spacecraft when the coma was otherwise obscured from Earth's view by the sun's glare. More than 9000 data points acquired systematically over the 5-day period from 2 to 6 February were combined to construct an excellent Lyman-α image of the hydrogen coma. The Lyman-α image was successfully reproduced with a comprehensive physical model, thereby verifying and documenting the underlying chemical kinetics and dynamics of the hydrogen coma.
ISSN:0036-8075
1095-9203
DOI:10.1126/science.253.5023.1008