Spitzer Space Telescope - Archive Research Proposal #3692


A Search for Comet Debris Trails in the Spitzer FLS Fields

Principal Investigator: Russell Walker
           Institution: Monterey Institute for Research in Astronomy

Co-Investigators: 
Mark Sykes, Steward Observatory, University of Arizona                
David Lien, Oaklahoma State University                                

Science Category: comets 
Dollars Approved: 103700.0 

Abstract:
We propose to identify serendipitous detections of comet dust trails
in the Spitzer First Look Survey fields.  This will include debris in
the orbits of known short-period comets as well as 'orphan' trails.
This will allow us to determine the number density of trails, the
fraction associated with known short-period comets, the extent of
trails along comet orbits, whether the distribution of orphans in
ecliptic latitude suggest a cometary or asteroidal origin, whether
communition of trail particles would allow for comets to be a
significant contributor to the broad thermal emission of the zodiacal
dust complex, and whether the physical properties of trail particles
vary from comet to comet (suggesting different origins).  Analysis of
detected trails will allow us to determine the temperature and optical
depth of the grains, the emission velocities and ages of the trail
particles, comet mass loss rates, and constrain comet dust-to-volatile
mass ratios.  The database of detected comet trails and their thermal
radiance will generate important follow-on science by future Spitzer
GO trail observations.  Trail search techniques and software developed
here will serve as a pilot study for efficient trail searches in more
extensive programs such as SWIRE.