Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 12, 2026
11:34
Scattering And Absorption of Light in Planetary Regoliths
Published on: July 1, 2019
Ultraviolet spectroscopy and the composition of cometary ice
Science (New York, N.Y.)
|January 28, 1983
Summary
Cometary nuclei composition is studied by observing gas and dust comae. Far-ultraviolet spectroscopy and space missions reveal insights into these primordial solar system remnants.
Area of Science:
- Astronomy and Astrophysics
- Planetary Science
- Cometary Science
Background:
- Cometary nucleus composition is primarily understood through analyzing the gas and dust comae.
- These comae form via sublimation of cometary ice as a comet approaches the Sun.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the physics and chemistry of the gaseous coma using advanced spectroscopic techniques.
- To gain deeper insights into the composition of cometary nuclei, remnants of the early solar system.
Main Methods:
- Far-ultraviolet spectroscopy from above Earth's atmosphere has been crucial.
- Analysis of data from interplanetary missions, such as those to Halley's comet.
- Utilizing new generations of Earth-orbiting observatories for enhanced observation.
Main Results:
- Far-ultraviolet spectroscopy has significantly advanced our understanding of cometary coma physics and chemistry.
- Interplanetary missions and advanced observatories are providing unprecedented data on cometary composition.
Conclusions:
- Current knowledge of cometary nuclei relies heavily on indirect observations of their comae.
- Future observations promise to further elucidate the nature of these ancient solar system bodies.
More Related Videos
07:48An Externally-Heated Diamond Anvil Cell for Synthesis and Single-Crystal Elasticity Determination of Ice-VII at High Pressure-Temperature Conditions
Published on: June 18, 2020
13:38Laser-Induced Fluorescence Emission (L.I.F.E.) as Novel Non-Invasive Tool for In-Situ Measurements of Biomarkers in Cryospheric Habitats
Published on: October 26, 2019
Related Concept Videos
01:02Ultraviolet and Visible (UV–Vis) Spectroscopy: Overview
Ultraviolet–visible (UV–visible or UV–Vis) spectroscopy is an analytical technique that investigates the interaction between matter and UV–Vis light within the electromagnetic spectrum. This method is widely used for its versatility, simplicity, and relatively quick data acquisition, making it valuable for both qualitative and quantitative analysis. When UV–Vis radiation passes through a material, molecules absorb light depending on the energy required for electronic transitions. As a result...
01:14UV–Vis Spectrometers
The absorbance of UV and visible (UV–visible) radiations is measured using a UV–visible spectrophotometer. Deuterium lamps, which emit UV radiation, and tungsten lamps, which produce radiation in the visible region, are used as light sources in UV–visible spectrophotometers. A monochromator or prism is used for diffraction grating, i.e., to split the incoming radiation into different wavelengths. A system of slits is used to focus the desired wavelength on the sample cell. Samples for...
01:16UV–Vis Spectroscopy: Molecular Electronic Transitions
In Ultraviolet–Visible (UV–Vis) spectroscopy, the absorption of electromagnetic radiation is used to probe the electronic structure of molecules. This technique provides insights into molecular electronic transitions, particularly the movement of electrons between different molecular orbitals. Radiation is absorbed if the energy of the electromagnetic radiation passing through the molecule is precisely equal to the energy difference between the excited and ground states. During this process,...
01:32UV–Vis Spectroscopy of Conjugated Systems
Organic compounds with conjugated double bonds show strong absorption features in the UV–visible region of the electromagnetic spectrum attributed to π → π* electronic excitations. Generally, a UV–vis absorption spectrum is recorded as a plot of absorbance vs wavelength. The wavelength of maximum absorbance, which manifests as a peak in the absorption spectrum, is denoted as λmax.
One of the factors influencing λmax is the extent of conjugation in the...
One of the factors influencing λmax is the extent of conjugation in the...
01:09Infrared (IR) Spectroscopy: Overview
When electromagnetic radiation passes through a material, atoms or molecules transition from a lower to a higher energy state by absorbing radiation corresponding to the energy difference between the two states. The absorption of infrared (IR) radiation causes transitions between vibrational energy levels in a molecule. Therefore, IR spectroscopy is a useful analytical tool for determining the molecular structure of molecules.
Different compounds display unique properties due to their...
Different compounds display unique properties due to their...
01:12Interaction of EM Radiation with Matter: Spectroscopy
Electromagnetic (EM) radiation can be considered an oscillating electric and magnetic field propagating through a medium that can interact with matter in its path. The electric field in the radiation can interact with electrical charges in the atoms or molecules in the matter. On the other hand, the magnetic field can interact with the magnetic field in the atomic nucleus. The study of the interaction between electromagnetic radiation and matter is termed spectroscopy. Spectroscopy is the study...