TOPS 2003 Observing Projects Karen Meech Institute for Astronomy TOPS 2003 Image copyright, R. Wainscoat, IfA Image courtesy K. Meech

HST Heritage Thackeray’s Globules 5900 LY distant

Young Variables Star Formation Star Formation Collapse of cloud Planetessimals condense Planets form Cloud clearing Young star moves onto MS (H fusion) Variability – accretion disk Variability – accretion disk Thermal instabilities  outburst Clearing of cloud STScI Images AAVSO Website

Beta Pictoris Space Telescope Science Institute

Dusty Disks Dust disks are present around stars at formation Dust disks are present around stars at formation Physics Physics Size of disk systems Size of disk systems Mass in disk system Mass in disk system Shape of disk system Shape of disk system Structure in disk Structure in disk Warps Warps Gaps (planets)? Gaps (planets)? Space Telescope Science Institute

The Kuiper Belt Discovery in 1992 Discovery in 1992 Not evenly distributed Not evenly distributed Resonnances Outer edge Neptune Trojan Dynamical evolution Size Distribution Size Distribution Used with permission, Minor Planet Center

KBO ’ FOV (1/2 CCD) [above] 40” section [lower] Images, Courtesy of K. Meech, Subaru Telescope, MKO

KBO ’ FOV (1/2 CCD) [above] 40” section [lower] Images, Courtesy of K. Meech, Subaru Telescope, MKO

Other KBO Science Binary KBOs  density Binary KBOs  density Size Distribution Size Distribution We see the big ones We see the big ones KBOs must collide KBOs must collide Short period comets are small Short period comets are small Images & Art from Space Telescope Science Institute; NASA

Colors & Spectroscopy Chemistry vs distance  origins Chemistry vs distance  origins Spectroscopy is best tool for composition Spectroscopy is best tool for composition Colors – a “poor man’s” solution Colors – a “poor man’s” solution Images, Courtesy of J. Bauer, IfA

Motivation Wide range of colors KBO colors more diverse KBOs / Centaurs – red ~15 blue-neutral KBOs Spectra Centaurs: H 2 O & organics KBOs: 1 H 2 O, few organics, most neutral Physical or Primordial? How would activity change color? Hainaut & Delsanti ‘02 Centaur Chiron with coma Image courtesy of K. Meech

1996 TO 66 – Activity Lightcurve period Lightcurve period 1997: 2 peak / hr,  m 0.12 mag 1997: 2 peak / hr,  m 0.12 mag 1998: single peak,  m 0.33 mag 1998: single peak,  m 0.33 mag Consistent with activity Consistent with activity Blue colors Blue colors Vary with rotation in 1999 Vary with rotation in 1999 Hainaut et al. 2000

Comet Rotation Everything rotates Everything rotates Why do we care? Why do we care? Evolution of SS Evolution of SS Thermal models Thermal models Space Missions Space Missions Images, Courtesy of NASA, DS1; K. Meech Figures, Courtesy of NASA, DS1; K. Meech

Nucleus Rotation Need for Imaging Sequence Need for Imaging Sequence Nucleus Size interpretation Nucleus Size interpretation Aug 2000 thermal/optical obs Aug 2000 thermal/optical obs Need rotational context Need rotational context Complex rotation Complex rotation DS1 image of 19P/Borrelly DS1 image of 19P/Borrelly Models of possible impact sites: we need to be able to predict that the impact occurs in a sunlit area based on rotation & shape Models of possible impact sites: we need to be able to predict that the impact occurs in a sunlit area based on rotation & shape Images, Courtesy of NASA, Giotto, DS1

Mars Observations Historical Observation Historical Observation Astrobiology? Mars Characteristics Mars Characteristics Obliquity 25o P = 1.88 yr Rotation = 24h37m Atm – 95% CO2, P = atm Dust Storm causes Dust Storm causes Large pressure gradients Atm instability STScI Images

Extrasolar Planets 102 known 102 known Learn about star/planet formation  our origins Learn about star/planet formation  our origins Habitable worlds?  Astrobiology Habitable worlds?  Astrobiology New paradigms New paradigms Art Courtesy of NASA

Discovery Techniques Radial Velocity Spectroscopy  star’s motion Spectroscopy  star’s motion Detection of an unseen companion Detection of an unseen companion All exo-planets to date with this technique All exo-planets to date with this technique

Transits Giordano Bruno Giordano Bruno Transits of Venus Transits of Venus 1874 – Hawaii 1874 – Hawaii Next 2004 & 2012 Next 2004 & 2012 “Eclipses” “Eclipses” Extrasolar Extrasolar Requires special Geometry Requires special Geometry Small light drop Small light drop US Naval Observatory Image

Extrasolar Planet Transits HD HD Can determine Mass Can determine Mass Kepler’s laws Kepler’s laws Density Density Habitability Habitability SS formation info SS formation info New fundamental physics New fundamental physics Courtesy of D. Charbonneau, Caltech NASA, Space Telescope Science Institute

Habitability Atmospheric comp Atmospheric comp Future Missions Future Missions Kepler Interferometry SIM TPF  Terrestrial Planet Finder NASA, Space Telescope Science Institute

NASA

From the STScI website

Jupiter Observations Rotation of Jupiter Rotation of Jupiter 9h55m Differential rotation Timescales Timescales Different planet size Different features Colors  organics Colors  organics Different cloud depths Different temperatures

Images from Yerkes Observatory

Project Summary Astrobiology Young variables Young variables Dust Disks Dust Disks KBO Recovery KBO Recovery Small body colors Small body colors Comet Rotation Comet Rotation Mars Dust Storms Mars Dust Storms Extra solar planets Extra solar planets Jupiter Red Spot Jupiter Red Spot