The NEOWISE-Discovered Comet Population and the CO+CO2 production rates

James M. Bauer; Rachel Stevenson; Emily Kramer; A. K. Mainzer; Tommy Grav; Joseph R. Masiero; Yan R. Fernández; Roc M. Cutri; John W. Dailey; Frank J. Masci; Karen J. Meech; Russel Walker; C. M. Lisse; Paul R. Weissman; Carrie R. Nugent; Sarah Sonnett; Nathan Blair; Andrew Lucas; Robert S. McMillan; Edward L. Wright; the WISE; NEOWISE Teams

arXiv · 1509.08446

The NEOWISE-Discovered Comet Population and the CO+CO2 production rates

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Abstract

The 163 comets observed during the WISE/NEOWISE prime mission represent the largest infrared survey to date of comets, providing constraints on dust, nucleus sizes, and CO+CO2 production. We present detailed analyses of the WISE/NEOWISE comet discoveries, and discuss observations of the active comets showing 4.6 $\mu$m band excess. We find a possible relation between dust and CO+CO2 production, as well as possible differences in the sizes of long and short period comet nuclei.

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James M. Bauer, Rachel Stevenson, Emily Kramer, A. K. Mainzer, Tommy Grav, Joseph R. Masiero, Yan R. Fernández, Roc M. Cutri, John W. Dailey, Frank J. Masci, Karen J. Meech, Russel Walker, C. M. Lisse, Paul R. Weissman, Carrie R. Nugent, Sarah Sonnett, Nathan Blair, Andrew Lucas, Robert S. McMillan, Edward L. Wright, the WISE, NEOWISE Teams. 2015-09-28. The NEOWISE-Discovered Comet Population and the CO+CO2 production rates. https://arxiv.org/abs/1509.08446

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