2000/11/16 by S. A. Stern, D. C. Slater, M. C. Festou +6 · 2 citations
Physics and Astronomy · #Astro and Planetary Science #Planetary Science and Exploration #Stellar, planetary, and galactic studies #astro-ph
paper · pdf · doi:10.1086/317312
published as Astrophys.J.544:L169-L172,2000 · 9 pages, 2 figures. ApJ, 545, in press (2000)
arxiv created 2000/11/16 · openalex publication_date 2000/12/01 · arxiv updated 2014/10/13 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/31
On 1997 March 30.14, we observed the EUV spectrum of the bright comet C/1995 O1 (Hale-Bopp) at the time of its perihelion, using our Extreme Ultraviolet Spectrograph sounding-rocket telescope/spectrometer. The spectra reveal the presence H Lyβ, O + , and, most notably, argon. Modeling of the retrieved Ar production rates indicates that comet Hale-Bopp is enriched in Ar relative to cosmogonic expectations. This in turn indicates that Hale-Bopp's deep interior has never been exposed to the 35-40 K temperatures necessary to deplete the comet's primordial argon supply.