Brian T. Carcich

Publications (3)34.59 Total impact

• Source

  Available from: Jian-Yang Li

  Article: Shape, density, and geology of the nucleus of Comet 103P/Hartley 2

  P C Thomas, Hearn, Joseph Veverka, Michael J S Belton, Jochen Kissel, Kenneth P Klaasen, Lucy A Mcfadden, H Jay Melosh, Peter H Schultz, Sébastien Besse, Brian T Carcich, Tony L Farnham, Olivier Groussin, Brendan Hermalyn, Jian-Yang Li, Don J Lindler, Carey M Lisse, Karen Meech, James E Richardson
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  ABSTRACT: a b s t r a c t Data from the Extrasolar Planet Observation and Deep Impact Extended Investigation (EPOXI) mission show Comet 103P/Hartley 2 is a bi-lobed, elongated, nearly axially symmetric comet 2.33 km in length. Surface features are primarily small mounds <40 m across, irregularly-shaped smooth areas on the two lobes, and a smooth but variegated region forming a ''waist'' between the two lobes. Assuming parts of the comet body approach the shape of an equipotential surface, the mean density of Hartley 2 is modeled to be 200–400 kg m À3 . Such a mean density suggests mass loss per orbit of >1%. The shape may be the evolutionary product of insolation, sublimation, and temporary deposition of materials controlled by the object's complex rotation.
  Icarus 02/2013; 222:550-558. · 3.38 Impact Factor
• Source

  Available from: Jian-Yang Li

  Article: EPOXI at comet Hartley 2.

  Michael F A'Hearn, Michael J S Belton, W Alan Delamere, Lori M Feaga, Donald Hampton, Jochen Kissel, Kenneth P Klaasen, Lucy A McFadden, Karen J Meech, H Jay Melosh, [......], Brendan Hermalyn, Michael S Kelley, Jian-Yang Li, Don J Lindler, Carey M Lisse, Stephanie A McLaughlin, Frédéric Merlin, Silvia Protopapa, James E Richardson, Jade L Williams
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  ABSTRACT: Understanding how comets work--what drives their activity--is crucial to the use of comets in studying the early solar system. EPOXI (Extrasolar Planet Observation and Deep Impact Extended Investigation) flew past comet 103P/Hartley 2, one with an unusually small but very active nucleus, taking both images and spectra. Unlike large, relatively inactive nuclei, this nucleus is outgassing primarily because of CO(2), which drags chunks of ice out of the nucleus. It also shows substantial differences in the relative abundance of volatiles from various parts of the nucleus.
  Science 06/2011; 332(6036):1396-400. · 31.20 Impact Factor
• Article: The generation and use of numerical shape models for irregular Solar System objects

  Damon P. Simonelli, Peter C. Thomas, Brian T. Carcich, Joseph Veverka
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  ABSTRACT: We describe a procedure that allows the efficient generation of numerical shape models for irregular Solar System objects, where a numerical model is simply a table of evenly spaced body-centered latitudes and longitudes and their associated radii. This modeling technique uses a combination of data from limbs, terminators, and control points, and produces shape models that have some important advantages over analytical shape models. Accurate numerical shape models make it feasible to study irregular objects with a wide range of standard scientific analysis techniques. These applications include the determination of moments of inertia and surface gravity, the mapping of surface locations and structural orientations, photometric measurement and analysis, the reprojection and mosaicking of digital images, and the generation of albedo maps. The capabilities of our modeling procedure are illustrated through the development of an accurate numerical shape model for Phobos and the production of a global, high-resolution, high-pass-filtered digital image mosaic of this Martian moon. Other irregular objects that have been modeled, or are being modeled, include the asteroid Gaspra and the satellites Deimos, Amalthea, Epimetheus, Janus, Hyperion, and Proteus.
  06/1993;