Early Solar System Objects: Testing Solar System Formation Models

天文学家最近发现了“Manx”彗星，即轨道在太阳系更远的地方，但当它们在轨道上最接近太阳时不会发出气体和尘埃的彗星。新的模型表明，它们可能是在太阳系内部形成的天体，在太阳系形成时被强迫进入太阳系外部。一些Manx彗星的光谱特征类似于内太阳系中最常见的小行星的光谱特征。这使得天文学家认为马诺克斯彗星是来自内太阳系的新鲜物质。研究人员将通过使用望远镜成像和获取彗星的光谱来研究马克斯彗星，以查看彗星周围的成分和任何可能存在的尘埃或气体。这些观测可以帮助天文学家了解早期太阳系是如何形成的。这项研究通过增加我们对太阳系是如何形成的以及在距离太阳不同的地方形成了什么物质的了解来服务于国家利益。研究人员参与了许多教育推广工作，包括夏威夷创新计划的创新数据可视化，以及檀香山K-12资产学校的实习生。为了对太阳系模型施加严格限制，研究人员将研究新发现的“Manx”彗星，即具有长周期轨道但在近日点活动很少或没有活动的彗星。这些观测结果表明，这些天体可能是在早期行星迁徙期间被抛入外太阳系奥尔特云的天体。对一个天体的测光表明，它类似于主宰内太阳系的S复合体小行星，但它也在放出气体，这表明马尼克斯彗星可能代表着新的内太阳系物质。这些研究包括对Manx天体进行光度测量和光谱分析，以根据反射光谱确定它们的表面成分；对Manx彗星的深层图像进行足够明亮的成像，以确定可能存在的任何数量的彗发；为过去探测到的Manx彗星搜索旧的档案数据；以及建立模型以确定冰升华。对许多Manx彗星的观测可以区分太阳系动力学模型。如果存在S光谱类型的活动天体，马诺斯彗星可能代表了太阳系水-冰线附近形成的原始物质。研究人员通过一对一指导、开发新课程、将研究和实践科学整合到课程中以及通过夏威夷创新计划探索创新的数据可视化，参与了培训STEM领域下一代科学家的努力。该团队目前正在与火奴鲁鲁的K-12资产学校合作进行实习生计划，并将把马克斯彗星的工作纳入该计划。

Astronomers have recently discovered "Manx" comets, or comets that have orbits that go farther out in the Solar System, but do not send out gas and dust when they get closest to the Sun in their orbits. New models suggest that they could be objects that formed in the inner Solar System and were forced into the outer part of the Solar System when the Solar System was forming. Spectral signatures of some Manx comets are like those of the most common asteroids in the inner Solar System. This leads astronomers to think that the Manx comets are fresh material from the inner Solar System. The investigators will study the Manx comets through using telescopes to image and take spectra of the comets to look at composition and any dust or gas that could be present around the objects. These observations can help astronomers learn how the early Solar System formed. This research serves the national interest by increasing our knowledge about how our Solar System formed and what materials formed at different distances from the Sun. The investigators participate in many educational outreach efforts, including innovative data visualization with the Hawaii Innovation initiative, and including interns from the K - 12 Assets School in Honolulu.In an effort to place firm constraints on models of the Solar System, the investigators will study the newly-discovered "Manx" comets, or comets that have long-period orbits but have little or no activity at perihelion. These observations suggest that these might be objects that were ejected into the Oort Cloud in the outer Solar System during early planet migration. Photometry of one object suggests that it is similar to the S-complex asteroids that dominate the inner Solar System, but it is also outgassing, suggesting that the Manx comets might represent fresh inner Solar System material. These studies include photometry and spectroscopy of the Manx objects to determine their surface compositions from reflectance spectroscopy, deep images of Manx comets that are sufficiently bright to determine any amount of coma that might be present, a search of old archived data for past detections of Manx comets, and modeling to determine ice sublimation. Observations of many Manx comets could distinguish between Solar System dynamical models. If there are active objects with S-type spectra, the Manx comets could represent primitive material that formed near the Solar System water-ice line. The investigators participate in efforts to train the next generation of scientists in STEM fields through one-on-one mentoring, development of new courses, integration of research and hands-on science into courses, and exploring innovative data visualization with the Hawaii Innovation initiative. The team is currently partnering with the K - 12 Assets School in Honolulu in their intern program, and will incorporate the Manx comet work into this program.