A SEARCH FOR THE MILLIMETER LINES OF HCN IN COMETS WILSON-1987-VII AND MACHHOLZ-1988-XV

Authors

J CROVISIER
D DESPOIS
D BOCKELEEMORVAN
E GERARD
G PAUBERT
LEB JOHANSSON
L EKELUND
A WINNBERG
W GE
William M. Irvine, University of Massachusetts - AmherstFollow
WM KINZEL
FP Schloerb

Publication Date

1990

Journal or Book Title

ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS

Abstract

The J(1-0) lines of HCN at 89 GHz were searched for in Comet Wilson 1987 VII, with the FCRAO, the SEST and the IRAM radio telescopes between February and June 1987. There was no firm detection, but significant upper limits were obtained, which put severe constraints on the HCN production rate in that comet. A direct comparison with the observations of P/Halley suggests that the HCN abundance relative to water might be smaller in Comet Wilson by at least a factor of two. The J(1-0) and J(3-2) lines of HCN at 89 and 266 GHz were searched for in Comet Machholz 1988 XV when it was close to perihelion at 0.17 AU from the sun. There was no detection. At that moment, the comet was probably no longer active.

Comments

The published version is located at http://adsabs.harvard.edu/full/1990A%26A...234..535C

Pages

535-538

Volume

234

Issue

1-2

Recommended Citation

CROVISIER, J; DESPOIS, D; BOCKELEEMORVAN, D; GERARD, E; PAUBERT, G; JOHANSSON, LEB; EKELUND, L; WINNBERG, A; GE, W; Irvine, William M.; KINZEL, WM; and Schloerb, FP, "A SEARCH FOR THE MILLIMETER LINES OF HCN IN COMETS WILSON-1987-VII AND MACHHOLZ-1988-XV" (1990). ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS. 507.
Retrieved from https://scholarworks.umass.edu/astro_faculty_pubs/507