Comet connection to young stars
ISO (Infrared Space Observatory)
- Infrared spectra of comet Hale-Bopp and young star HD 100546 vg
- Hale-Bopp emission from refractory dust
- which shows up in spectacular comet tails TA 105
- Peak at about 20 ?m = 20,000 nm
- T about 150 K
- heated by sunlight at 3 AU from sun
- star’s infrared emission from dusty disk
- star itself would radiate at visible wavelengths
- longer wavelengths imply lower temperatures
- extending into “ice zone” T < 150 K
- Both have emission features at 11.3, 16, 19, 24, 34 ?m
- “fingerprint” of a silicate (rock) mineral known as Forsterite
- star appears to be in the process of creating its own “Oort cloud” of cometary nuclei