Spectroscopic and dynamical properties of comet C/2018 F4, likely a true average former member of the Oort cloud. (arXiv:1903.10838v1 [astro-ph.EP])
<a href="http://arxiv.org/find/astro-ph/1/au:+Licandro_J/0/1/0/all/0/1">Javier Licandro</a>, <a href="http://arxiv.org/find/astro-ph/1/au:+Marcos_C/0/1/0/all/0/1">Carlos de la Fuente Marcos</a>, <a href="http://arxiv.org/find/astro-ph/1/au:+Marcos_R/0/1/0/all/0/1">Raul de la Fuente Marcos</a>, <a href="http://arxiv.org/find/astro-ph/1/au:+Leon_J/0/1/0/all/0/1">Julia de Leon</a>, <a href="http://arxiv.org/find/astro-ph/1/au:+Serra_Ricart_M/0/1/0/all/0/1">Miquel Serra-Ricart</a>, <a href="http://arxiv.org/find/astro-ph/1/au:+Cabrera_Lavers_A/0/1/0/all/0/1">Antonio Cabrera-Lavers</a>
The population of comets hosted by the Oort cloud is heterogeneous. Most
studies in this area focused on highly active objects, those with small
perihelion distances or examples of objects with peculiar physical properties
and/or unusual chemical compositions. This may have produced a biased sample of
Oort cloud comets in which the most common objects may be rare, particularly
those with perihelia well beyond the orbit of the Earth. Within this context,
the known Oort cloud comets may not be representative of the full sample. Here,
we study the spectral properties in the visible region and the cometary
activity of Comet C/2018 F4 (PANSTARRS). We also explore its orbital evolution
with the aim of understanding its origin within the context of known minor
bodies moving along nearly parabolic or hyperbolic paths. We present
observations obtained with the 10.4 m Gran Telescopio Canarias (GTC), derive
the spectral class and visible slope of C/2018 F4 and characterise its level of
cometary activity. Direct N-body simulations are carried out to explore its
orbital evolution. The absolute magnitude of C/2018 F4 is Hr=13.62+/-0.04.
Assuming a pV=0.04 its diameter is D<10.4 km. The object presents a conspicuous
coma, with a level of activity comparable to those of other comets observed at
similar heliocentric distances. Comet C/2018 F4 has a visible spectrum
consistent with that of an X-type asteroid, and has a spectral slope
S'=4.0+/-1.0 %/1000AA and no evidence of hydration. The spectrum matches those
of well-studied primitive asteroids and comets. The analysis of its dynamical
evolution prior to discovery suggests that C/2018 F4 is not of extrasolar
origin. Although the present-day heliocentric orbit of C/2018 F4 is slightly
hyperbolic, its observational properties and past orbital evolution are
consistent with those of a dynamically old comet with an origin in the Oort
cloud.
The population of comets hosted by the Oort cloud is heterogeneous. Most
studies in this area focused on highly active objects, those with small
perihelion distances or examples of objects with peculiar physical properties
and/or unusual chemical compositions. This may have produced a biased sample of
Oort cloud comets in which the most common objects may be rare, particularly
those with perihelia well beyond the orbit of the Earth. Within this context,
the known Oort cloud comets may not be representative of the full sample. Here,
we study the spectral properties in the visible region and the cometary
activity of Comet C/2018 F4 (PANSTARRS). We also explore its orbital evolution
with the aim of understanding its origin within the context of known minor
bodies moving along nearly parabolic or hyperbolic paths. We present
observations obtained with the 10.4 m Gran Telescopio Canarias (GTC), derive
the spectral class and visible slope of C/2018 F4 and characterise its level of
cometary activity. Direct N-body simulations are carried out to explore its
orbital evolution. The absolute magnitude of C/2018 F4 is Hr=13.62+/-0.04.
Assuming a pV=0.04 its diameter is D<10.4 km. The object presents a conspicuous
coma, with a level of activity comparable to those of other comets observed at
similar heliocentric distances. Comet C/2018 F4 has a visible spectrum
consistent with that of an X-type asteroid, and has a spectral slope
S’=4.0+/-1.0 %/1000AA and no evidence of hydration. The spectrum matches those
of well-studied primitive asteroids and comets. The analysis of its dynamical
evolution prior to discovery suggests that C/2018 F4 is not of extrasolar
origin. Although the present-day heliocentric orbit of C/2018 F4 is slightly
hyperbolic, its observational properties and past orbital evolution are
consistent with those of a dynamically old comet with an origin in the Oort
cloud.
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