Spin Axis Direction of Comet 19p/Borrelly Based on Observations from 2000 and 2001

We calculate the direction of the rotational angular momentum vector,M, of comet 19P/Borrelly based on rotational lightcurve data from 2000, groundbased imaging of the coma during the Deep Space 1encounter, and the basic near-nucleus coma morphology as revealed by the Deep Space 1 spacecraft. For the most likely direction, we derivea family of solutions (with center at RA = 221°, Dec = -7°) if the direction of M is towards the sunward hemisphere during the Deep Space 1 encounter, whereas if the rotation is of opposite sense, the diametrically opposite family of solutions (with center at RA = 41°, Dec = 7°) would result. We argue that the coma morphology in September 2001 is consistent with the nucleus being a principal axis rotator or one observationally indistinguishable from it. Therefore, for all practical purposes, the direction of the rotational angular momentum vector coincides with the spin axis. We also discuss why the determination of the spin axis direction based on observations from the last apparition is in disagreement with the current result.     

Enhanced Activity in Close T Tauri Binaries

The number of confirmed and suspected close T Tauri binaries (period days) is increasing. We discuss some systems with enhanced emission line activity and periodic line profile changes. Non-axisymmetric flows of plasma in the region between the circumbinary disk and the stars can be generated through the influence of the secondary component. Such enhanced activity is found around binaries with eccentric as well as circular orbits. We discuss our observations of the T Tauri stars RW Aurigae A and RU Lupi, which may host very close brown dwarf companions. Model simulations indicate that non-axisymmetric flows are generated around close binaries with circumbinary disks, also in systems with circular orbits.     

Peculiarities of the UV continuum energy distribution for T Tauri stars

In the UV spectra of BP Tau, GW Ori, T Tau, and RY Tau obtained with the Hubble Space Telescope, we detected an inflection near 2000 Å in the F _λ ^c (λ) curve that describes the continuum energy distribution. The inflection probably stems from the fact that the UV continuum in these stars consists of two components: the emission from an optically thick gas with T<8000 K and the emission from a gas with a much higher temperature. The total luminosity of the hot component is much lower than that of the cool component, but the hot-gas radiation dominates at λ<1800 Å. Previously, other authors have drawn a similar conclusion for several young stars from low-resolution IUE spectra. However, we show that the short-wavelength continuum is determined from these spectra with large errors. We also show that, for three of the stars studied (BP Tau, GW Ori, and T Tau), the accretion-shock radiation cannot account for the observed dependence F _λ ^c (λ) in the ultraviolet. We argue that more than 90% of the emission continuum in BP Tau at λ>2000 Å originates not in the accretion shock but in the inner accretion disk. Previously, a similar conclusion was reached for six more classical T Tau stars. Therefore, we believe that the high-temperature continuum can be associated with the radiation from the disk chromosphere. However, it may well be that the stellar chromosphere is its source.     

Meteor observations in Japan: new implications for a Taurid meteoroid swarm

Observational evidence is sought that the long-term (10⁴ yr) action of a mean motion resonance with Jupiter can produce structure in a meteoroid stream, concentrating meteoroids in a dense swarm. More specifically, predictions tabulated by Asher & Clube of enhanced meteor and fireball activity from a Taurid Complex swarm in the 7:2 resonance are compared with observational data collected in Japan over several decades. The swarm model was proposed for reasons independent of the observations analysed here, and these newly considered data are shown to be consistent with it. This allows increased confidence in the Taurid swarm theory, and more generally could mean that resonant trapping is a dynamical mechanism affecting a significant amount of meteoroidal material in the inner Solar system.     

Follow‐up observations of Comet 17P/Holmes after its extreme outburst in brightness end of October 2007

We present follow‐up observations of comet 17/P Holmes after its extreme outburst in brightness, which occurred end of October 2007. We obtained 58 V‐band images of the comet between October 2007 and February 2008, using the Cassegrain‐Teleskop‐Kamera (CTK) at the University Observatory Jena. We present precise astrometry of the comet, which yields its most recent Keplerian orbital elements. Furthermore, we show that the comet's coma expands quite linearly with a velocity of about 1650 km/s between October and December 2007. The photometric monitoring of comet 17/P Holmes shows that its photometric activity level decreased by about 5.9 mag within 105 days after its outburst (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Short-period Jupiter family comets after Stardust

The NASA Stardust mission has provided for laboratory study an extensive data set of cometary dust of known provenance (from comet 81P/Wild 2) yielding detailed insights into the composition of the comet. Combined with the results of data from other missions to short-period Jupiter family comets (JFC), this has greatly deepened the understanding of such objects. If depressions on the surface of comet 81P/Wild 2 are all taken as evidence of impact cratering, their number suggests a long occupancy in the outer region of the Solar System. The dust from comet 81P/Wild 2 has been shown to be heavily deficient in pre-Solar grains and rich in materials formed at high temperatures in the inner Solar System. Although it is too early to know if this is typical of JFC, it does argue for rapid and thorough mixing of materials in the disk on timescales related to comet formation, and may also suggest outward migration of small icy bodies after their formation. Thus, instead of providing mainly new knowledge of the pre-Solar materials expected to be rich in comets, Stardust and comet 81P/Wild 2 have instead focussed attention on large-scale transport processes during the critical period when cometary parent bodies were forming in the early Solar System.     

Hemispheric asymmetry of sunspot area in solar cycle 23 and rising phase of solar cycle 24: Comparison of three data sets

Analysis of long-term solar data from different observatories is required to compare and confirm the various level of solar activity in depth. In this paper, we study the north–south asymmetry of monthly mean sunspot area distribution during the cycle-23 and rising phase of cycle-24 using the data from Kodaikanal Observatory (KO), Michelson Doppler Imager (MDI) and Solar Optical Observing Network (SOON). Our analysis confirmed the double peak behavior of solar cycle-23 and the dominance of southern hemisphere in all the sunspot area data obtained from three different resources. The analysis also showed that there is a 5–6 months time delay in the activity levels of two hemispheres. Furthermore, the wavelet analysis carried on the same data sets showed several known periodicities (e.g., 170–180 days, 2.1 year) in the north–south difference of sunspot area data. The temporal occurrence of these periods is also the same in all the three data sets. These results could help in understanding the underlying mechanism of north–south asymmetry of solar activity.     

Features of a comet nucleus: The case of 103P/Hartley 2

In the paper two chosen features of the comet 103P/Hartley 2 are studied. The first one are ‘cometary geysers’ which have been recorded by the camera on Deep Impact spacecraft. The numerical calculations related with this phenomenon have been carried out for large number of values of probable cometary characteristics. Our calculations confirm the assumption what also has been observed by NASA's scientists that the jets of carbon dioxide from the geysers are able to lift large chunks of water ice from the comet. The second discussed feature of the comet 103P/Hartley 2 is the lack of impact holes on the surface of its nucleus. The expected rate of impact holes on the surface of the nucleus of 103P/Hartley 2 is discussed. These holes could be the product of impacts between this comet and other small bodies orbiting in the main asteroid belt. The probability of such impacts, the total number of expected perceptible holes and changes in the luminosity of the comet caused by collisions are examined. We conclude that indeed the number of visible holes on its surface should be negligible (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

X‐rays from young stars: A summary of highlights from the XMM‐Newton Extended Survey of the Taurus Molecular Cloud (XEST)

The XMM‐Newton Extended Survey of the Taurus Molecular Cloud (XEST) is a survey of the nearest large star‐forming region, the Taurus Molecular Cloud (TMC), making use of all instruments on board the XMM‐Newton X‐ray observatory. The survey, presently still growing, has provided unprecedented spectroscopic results from nearly every observed T Tauri star, and from ≈50% of the studied brown dwarfs and protostars. The survey includes the first coherent statistical sample of high‐resolution spectra of T Tauri stars, and is accompanied by an U ‐band/ultraviolet imaging photometric survey of the TMC. XEST led to the discovery of new, systematic X‐ray features not possible before with smaller samples, in particular the X‐ray soft excess in classical T Tauri stars and the Two‐Absorber X‐ray (TAX) spectra of jet‐driving T Tauri stars. This paper summarizes highlights from XEST and reviews the key role of this large project. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)