The 2016 Reactivations of the Main-belt Comets 238P/Read and 288P/(300163) 2006 VW139

Henry H. Hsieh, Masateru Ishiguro, Yoonyoung Kim, Matthew M. Knight, Zhong Yi Lin, Marco Micheli, Nicholas A. Moskovitz, Scott S. Sheppard, Audrey Thirouin, Chadwick A. Trujillo

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

14 Scopus citations

Abstract

We report observations of the reactivations of the main-belt comets (MBCs) 238P/Read and 288P/(300163) 2006 VW139 that also track the evolution of each object's activity over several months in 2016 and 2017. We additionally identify and analyze archival SDSS data showing 288P to have been active in 2000, meaning that both 238P and 288P have now each been confirmed to be active near perihelion on three separate occasions. From data obtained of 288P from 2012-2015 when it appeared inactive, we find best-fit R-band H, G phase function parameters of H R = 16.80 ±0.12 mag and G R = 0.18 ±0.11, corresponding to effective component radii of r c = 0.80 ±0.04 km, assuming a binary system with equally sized components. Fitting linear functions to ejected dust masses inferred for 238P and 288P soon after their observed reactivations in 2016, we find an initial average net dust production rate of kg s-1 and a best-fit start date of 2016 March 11 (when the object was at a true anomaly of ν = -63°) for 238P, and an initial average net dust production rate of kg s-1 and a best-fit start date of 2016 August 5 (when the object was at ν = -27°) for 288P. Applying similar analyses to archival data, we find similar start points for previous active episodes for both objects, suggesting that minimal mantle growth or ice recession occurred between the active episodes in question. Some changes in dust production rates between active episodes are detected, however. More detailed dust modeling is suggested to further clarify the process of activity evolution in MBCs.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number223
JournalAstronomical Journal
Volume156
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 2018

Keywords

  • comets: general
  • comets: individual (238P, 288P)
  • minor planets, asteroids: general

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Astronomy and Astrophysics
  • Space and Planetary Science

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'The 2016 Reactivations of the Main-belt Comets 238P/Read and 288P/(300163) 2006 VW139'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this