The Rotational Parameters Of Hale–Bopp (C/1995 O1) From Observations Of The Dust Jets At Pic Du Midi Observatory

We observed comet Hale-Bopp (C/1995 O1) at Pic du Midi Observatory in 1997 from February 2.24 UT to March 31.89 UT with the 1.05-m telescope equipped with a CCD camera and broad- and narrow-band IHW filters. A total of 30000 images were acquired both during night- and day-time. The images were automatically reduced and all the images obtained within 10 min. were co-added to give a set of ∼1000 images used during the analysis. We can identify two jets on the images. The position angle of the brightest jet from February 2.24 UT to March 5.22 UT is measured using an automatic routine which searches for the averaged position angle of the maximum of brightness at a projected distance of 3200–6100 km from the optocenter. A preliminary model of nucleus rotation is used to fit the data and retrieve the rotational parameters of the nucleus. The best fit is found for a source located at a latitude of 64 ± 3°, a sidereal rotation period of 11.35 ± 0.04 h and a right ascension and declination of the North pole of 275 ± 10° and -57 ± 10°. This preliminary analysis shows no evidence for a precession. Grains with velocities of 450–600 m s⁻¹ and radii <;∼ 1 μm dominate the optical scattering cross section in the jets. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

2D modelling of a dry joint masonry wall retaining a pulverulent backfill

This work focuses on an analysis of dry joint retaining structures based on yield design theory: the stability of the masonry is assessed using rigid block and shear failure mechanisms in the wall and its backfill. An application of this simulation on 2D scale‐down brick and wood models is then addressed, showing close agreement between theoretical predictions and experimental results. Further development on this work, including application of this theory on dry‐stone retaining walls, is discussed as a conclusion. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The use of image processors for acquisition and reduction of astrometric data in real time

In Dynamical Astronomy, the data used to fit theories are positional observations. If the data are reduced using computers, the measure itself is not, and informations are lost. The classical way is to use photographic plates measured by hand. The use of automatic machine permits to save time but not to increase the amount of data.The arrival of silicium targets and CCD allows to acquire much more data directly stored on computer. We used this technique associated with array processors. So we succeeded to increase the accuracy of the data. This method was applied to the observation of the motion of some asteroids and of the Galilean satellites of Jupiter.     

A Comparative Study of Jovian Anticyclone Properties from a Six-Year (1994-2000) Survey

We have used the Hubble Space Telescope archived images of Jupiter for the period 1994-2000, complemented by ground-based telescopic observations, to study in detail the long-term properties of synoptic-scale anticyclonic vortices (size > 1500 km, lifetime > months). We have also analyzed a set of Voyager 1 and 2 images obtained in 1979 to compare anticyclone properties from the two different periods. The latitudinal range covered by this survey spans 75°N to 75°S, encompassing 12 anticyclonic zones. We present data on vortex size, aspect ratio, number, latitude location, lifetime, motion, interaction, and morphology for more than 100 vortices. We study empirically the relation between these properties and the mean ambient zonal flow.We show that most of these properties are not related to latitude and location relative to the jet pattern. However, a significant linear anticorrelation is found when plotting vortex relative speed (vortex propagation speed minus zonal flow velocity) against the zonal flow velocity at the central latitude of each vortex. As the mean eastward flow increases its velocity within a given anticyclonic domain, vortex velocity becomes more westward. This relation holds for all anticyclones except those moving at high velocities (at latitudes 20°S and 23°N), whose origin appears to be of a different nature. Moreover, there is also some evidence that the drift rate could be connected to the planetary minus flow vorticity gradient (most conspicuous at 40 and 45°N). We present simple dynamical interpretations of these observations.     

An Overview of Saturn's Equatorial Storms: 1990 - 1997

We present an overview of the studies we have performed of the unusual storm activity that is occurring in the Equatorial Zone (EZ) of Saturn since 1990 based on a long-term CCD imaging (261-953 nm). This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

The Winchcombe fireball—That lucky survivor

On February 28, 2021, a fireball dropped ∼0.6 kg of recovered CM2 carbonaceous chondrite meteorites in South-West England near the town of Winchcombe. We reconstruct the fireball's atmospheric trajectory, light curve, fragmentation behavior, and pre-atmospheric orbit from optical records contributed by five networks. The progenitor meteoroid was three orders of magnitude less massive (∼13 kg) than any previously observed carbonaceous fall. The Winchcombe meteorite survived entry because it was exposed to a very low peak atmospheric dynamic pressure (∼0.6 MPa) due to a fortuitous combination of entry parameters, notably low velocity (13.9 km s⁻¹). A near-catastrophic fragmentation at ∼0.07 MPa points to the body's fragility. Low entry speeds which cause low peak dynamic pressures are likely necessary conditions for a small carbonaceous meteoroid to survive atmospheric entry, strongly constraining the radiant direction to the general antapex direction. Orbital integrations show that the meteoroid was injected into the near-Earth region ∼0.08 Myr ago and it never had a perihelion distance smaller than ∼0.7 AU, while other CM2 meteorites with known orbits approached the Sun closer (∼0.5 AU) and were heated to at least 100 K higher temperatures.     

An individual-based model study of anchovy early life history in the northern Humboldt Current system

We used an individual-based model of anchovy (Engraulis ringens) early life history coupled with hydrodynamic outputs from the regional oceanic modeling system (ROMS) to investigate the factors driving variability in egg and larval survival rates in the northern Humboldt upwelling region off Peru. Individuals were released within a coastal area and followed for a period of 30 days. Those that were still in the coastal area at that time were considered as retained. We investigated the spatial and temporal variability in the release locations of the individuals retained, and compared these to observed egg concentration patterns reconstructed from a 40-year period of monitoring. A first set of simulations using passive particles to represent anchovy eggs and larvae revealed a large sensitivity of the results to the initial vertical distribution of particles. We then conducted two additional sets of simulations that included the effect of egg buoyancy, larval vertical swimming behavior and lethal temperature. We obtained (1) maximal coastal retention close to the surface in winter and in deeper layers in summer, (2) a large influence of egg buoyancy and of larval vertical behavior on coastal retention in all seasons, (3) a partial match between dates and locations of enhanced retention and observed egg concentration patterns and (4) a low effect of lethal temperature on survival except when associated with high egg density. The model suggests that an optimal temporal spawning pattern for maximizing coastal retention would have two maximums, the most significant in austral winter and the second in summer. This pattern agrees roughly with observed spawning seasonality, but with temporal discrepancy of about two months in the peaks of both series. Spatially, we obtained higher retention from 10 S to 20 S, whereas the observed maximum egg concentration was located between 6°S and 14°S. Among the three sets of simulations, the one taking into account larval vertical swimming behavior lead to the best match with the data.