One of the detection objectives of the Chinese Asteroid Exploration mission is to investigate the space environment near the Main-belt Comet(MBC,Active Asteroid)311P/PANSTARRS.This paper outlines the scientific object...One of the detection objectives of the Chinese Asteroid Exploration mission is to investigate the space environment near the Main-belt Comet(MBC,Active Asteroid)311P/PANSTARRS.This paper outlines the scientific objectives,measurement targets,and measurement requirements for the proposed Gas and Ion Analyzer(GIA).The GIA is designed for in-situ mass spectrometry of neutral gases and low-energy ions,such as hydrogen,carbon,and oxygen,in the vicinity of 311P.Ion sampling techniques are essential for the GIA's Time-of-Flight(TOF)mass analysis capabilities.In this paper,we present an enhanced ion sampling technique through the development of an ion attraction model and an ion source model.The ion attraction model demonstrates that adjusting attraction grid voltage can enhance the detection efficiency of low-energy ions and mitigate the repulsive force of ions during sampling,which is influenced by the satellite's surface positive charging.The ion source model simulates the processes of gas ionization and ion multiplication.Simulation results indicate that the GIA can achieve a lower pressure limit below 10-13Pa and possess a dynamic range exceeding 10~9.These performances ensure the generation of ions with stable and consistent current,which is crucial for high-resolution and broad dynamic range mass spectrometer analysis.Preliminary testing experiments have verified GIA's capability to detect gas compositions such as H2O and N2.In-situ measurements near 311P using GIA are expected to significantly contribute to our understanding of asteroid activity mechanisms,the evolution of the atmospheric and ionized environments of main-belt comets,the interactions with solar wind,and the origin of Earth's water.展开更多
Sent out at 1:31am GMT+8 on May 29 by a Long March-3B carrier rocket from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Sichuan province,China,Tianwen-2,the second mission of China’s Planetary Exploration Program,correctly ...Sent out at 1:31am GMT+8 on May 29 by a Long March-3B carrier rocket from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Sichuan province,China,Tianwen-2,the second mission of China’s Planetary Exploration Program,correctly entered the transfer trajectory toward an asteroid named 2016HO3 after flying for 18 minutes.Its solar wings unfolded properly,signaling a successful start,and primed for the next stage of its mission.展开更多
In this work,we report observations of three comets:38P/Stephan-Oterma,64P/Swift-Gehrels,and C/2017 M4(ATLAS),conducted with the Nanshan one-meter wide-field telescope in 2018 August and November,and 2019January.We ex...In this work,we report observations of three comets:38P/Stephan-Oterma,64P/Swift-Gehrels,and C/2017 M4(ATLAS),conducted with the Nanshan one-meter wide-field telescope in 2018 August and November,and 2019January.We extracted morphological features through image enhancement techniques and calculated the dust activity parameter,Afρ,along with dust mass loss rates and coma color indices using broadband photometric data.Our morphological analysis uncovered a spectrum of dust characteristics among the observed comets,ranging from a significant twisted structure in comet 38P/Stephan-Oterma’s coma to the regular coma envelope surrounding comet 64P/Swift-Gehrels.The Afρvalues varied between 148.8±0.3 cm for 64P/Swift-Gehrels and1118.5±6.2 cm for C/2017 M4(ATLAS)(measured within a reference aperture radius ofρ=6″),indicating a range from moderate to high activity levels.Dust mass loss rates were estimated from 328.1 kg s^(-1)for comet 64P/Swift-Gehrels to 1395.5 kg s^(-1)for comet C/2017 M4(ATLAS).The color indices of comets 38P/Stephan-Oterma and C/2017 M4(ATLAS)closely resemble the average colors of active short-period comets and active longperiod comets,respectively.In contrast,64P/Swift-Gehrels exhibits a significantly bluer hue than typical Jupiter family comets.展开更多
基金Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(42474239,41204128)China National Space Administration(Pre-research project on Civil Aerospace Technologies No.D010301)Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(XDA17010303)。
文摘One of the detection objectives of the Chinese Asteroid Exploration mission is to investigate the space environment near the Main-belt Comet(MBC,Active Asteroid)311P/PANSTARRS.This paper outlines the scientific objectives,measurement targets,and measurement requirements for the proposed Gas and Ion Analyzer(GIA).The GIA is designed for in-situ mass spectrometry of neutral gases and low-energy ions,such as hydrogen,carbon,and oxygen,in the vicinity of 311P.Ion sampling techniques are essential for the GIA's Time-of-Flight(TOF)mass analysis capabilities.In this paper,we present an enhanced ion sampling technique through the development of an ion attraction model and an ion source model.The ion attraction model demonstrates that adjusting attraction grid voltage can enhance the detection efficiency of low-energy ions and mitigate the repulsive force of ions during sampling,which is influenced by the satellite's surface positive charging.The ion source model simulates the processes of gas ionization and ion multiplication.Simulation results indicate that the GIA can achieve a lower pressure limit below 10-13Pa and possess a dynamic range exceeding 10~9.These performances ensure the generation of ions with stable and consistent current,which is crucial for high-resolution and broad dynamic range mass spectrometer analysis.Preliminary testing experiments have verified GIA's capability to detect gas compositions such as H2O and N2.In-situ measurements near 311P using GIA are expected to significantly contribute to our understanding of asteroid activity mechanisms,the evolution of the atmospheric and ionized environments of main-belt comets,the interactions with solar wind,and the origin of Earth's water.
文摘Sent out at 1:31am GMT+8 on May 29 by a Long March-3B carrier rocket from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Sichuan province,China,Tianwen-2,the second mission of China’s Planetary Exploration Program,correctly entered the transfer trajectory toward an asteroid named 2016HO3 after flying for 18 minutes.Its solar wings unfolded properly,signaling a successful start,and primed for the next stage of its mission.
基金supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of China(grant No.2021D01B112)Tianshan Talent Training Program through the grant 2023TSYCCX0101。
文摘In this work,we report observations of three comets:38P/Stephan-Oterma,64P/Swift-Gehrels,and C/2017 M4(ATLAS),conducted with the Nanshan one-meter wide-field telescope in 2018 August and November,and 2019January.We extracted morphological features through image enhancement techniques and calculated the dust activity parameter,Afρ,along with dust mass loss rates and coma color indices using broadband photometric data.Our morphological analysis uncovered a spectrum of dust characteristics among the observed comets,ranging from a significant twisted structure in comet 38P/Stephan-Oterma’s coma to the regular coma envelope surrounding comet 64P/Swift-Gehrels.The Afρvalues varied between 148.8±0.3 cm for 64P/Swift-Gehrels and1118.5±6.2 cm for C/2017 M4(ATLAS)(measured within a reference aperture radius ofρ=6″),indicating a range from moderate to high activity levels.Dust mass loss rates were estimated from 328.1 kg s^(-1)for comet 64P/Swift-Gehrels to 1395.5 kg s^(-1)for comet C/2017 M4(ATLAS).The color indices of comets 38P/Stephan-Oterma and C/2017 M4(ATLAS)closely resemble the average colors of active short-period comets and active longperiod comets,respectively.In contrast,64P/Swift-Gehrels exhibits a significantly bluer hue than typical Jupiter family comets.
