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arXiv · 2501.07340

The Spectrum of C/2023 A3 Indicates A Depleted Composition

Yunyi Tang·Shihao Wang·Zixuan Lin·Xiaorui Yang·Xinyang Zhang·Songyu Jia·Sharon X. Wang
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Abstract

We report a spectroscopic observation of comet C/2023 A3 using an 80 mm apochromatic (apo) refractor equipped with a custom-built spectrometer with a resolution of R~2,500 on the night of 4 October 2024. Sodium D lines were detected prominently, while no other emission lines, particularly carbon-bearing species, were observed, which suggests that comet C/2023 A3 may be carbon-depleted. The mobility and flexibility of our observational setup highlight the value of amateur telescopes in observing low-altitude targets like C/2023 A3 as a complement to professional facilities.

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Yunyi Tang, Shihao Wang, Zixuan Lin, Xiaorui Yang, Xinyang Zhang, Songyu Jia, Sharon X. Wang. 2025-01-13. The Spectrum of C/2023 A3 Indicates A Depleted Composition. https://doi.org/10.3847/2515-5172%2Fad891a

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