Observation by Robin Leadbeater: C/2020 F3 (NEOWISE) Spatial Distribution...

Uploaded by

Robin Leadbeater

Observer

Robin Leadbeater

Observed

2020 Jul 13 - 22:40

Uploaded

2020 Aug 06 - 13:03

Objects

C/2020 F3 (NEOWISE)
Spectrum

Equipment

ALPY 600 Spectrograph
ATIK 428 camera
Celestron C11 SCT 280mm aperture f5.5

Location

Three Hills Observatory Wigton Cumbria UK

Target name

C/2020 F3 (NEOWISE)

Title

C/2020 F3 (NEOWISE) Spatial Distribution of Spectral Components

About this image

Spectral cross sections across the coma and the tail 4 arc min from the centre of the coma. (open the poster in a new tab to view full size)

The relative intensity of the main spectral components, Dust, Na, CN, (C2 in coma) (CO+ in tail) are plotted relative to the central line through coma and tail.

The CN and Sodium components are seen in both coma and tail but the C2 component which dominates the coma emission spectrum is absent in the tail, replaced by the CO+ component.

The spatial distributions are significantly different for the various components. In particular the sodium emission in the coma is confined to a narrow central region but the CN component is widespread in both the coma and tail. The Sodium distribution in the tail is skewed anticlockwise relative to the dust, consistent with the presence of a separate sodium tail.

See J. Br. Astron. Assoc. 130,5,2020 p268 for further details

This study also formed the basis of the talk "Dissecting Comets using Spectroscopy" given at the BAA Comet Section meeting July 2023

https://britastro.org/videos/08-robin-leadbeater

Files associated with this observation

poster_annot.png (706.8 kB)

Like this image

David Swan, Nick James, James Weightman, Philip Masding, Dr Andrew Smith, Graham Winstanley, John Coffin, Jeremy Shears, Peter Carson

Comments

Dr Andrew Smith, 2020 Aug 07 - 17:43 UTC

Good analysis Robin, good to see you extracting maximum information from your data. Top job.

Regards Andrew

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