MSX Observations of Cometary Dust
R. G. Walker (VRI), D. J. Lein (Bucknell Univ.), S. Jayaraman, E. A. Barker (VRI), S. D. Price (AFRL)
We report preliminary results of observations in four infrared bands
from 6.8 to 25 microns of comets Hyakutake, Tabur and Hale-Bopp
obtained by the Midcourse Space Experiment (MSX) satellite. The line
scanned arrays in the infrared telescope have a resolution of 18
arc seconds. MSX observed eight comets, but these are the three that
have been examined to date. Each comet observation includes 15 scans
along the comet's orbit ( 
wide by 
long). The large
field scanned combined with the good sensitivity of the detectors and
the factor of four co-add advantage from the 15 scans allows us to
map the dust to great distances from the comet. Preliminary images
are presented and interpreted in terms of dust production rate,
emission mechanism, and grain properties by comparison to theoretical
models of the dust distribution.