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# Program information file
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PROGRAM_ID 2024A047
PROGRAM_TITLE SpeX observations of 144P/Kushida, 12P/Pons-Brooks, and C/2021 S3 [PanSTARRS]: Exploring the overall coma composition of comets
PROGRAM_INV1 Ron Vervack
PROGRAM_INV2 Neil Dello Russo
PROGRAM_INV3 Boncho Bonev
PROGRAM_INV4 Mike DiSanti
PROGRAM_INV5 Erika Gibb
PROGRAM_SCICAT comets
PROGRAM_ABSTRACT_BEG
Semester 2024A represents an excellent opportunity to sample comets from three dynamical families: Jupiter-family comet [JFC] 144P/Kushida, Halley-family comet [HFC] 12P/Pons-Brooks, and Oort cloud comet [OCC] C/2021 S3 [PanSTARRS]. Our proposed study emphasizes three science objectives for which IRTF/SpeX is ideal: [1] sample overall gas emission by observing strong but overlapping emissions between 2.8 and 4.2 um, [2] sample the continuum from 0.7 to 4.2 um to investigate the dust environment, and [3] build a database of moderate-resolution comet spectra. Owing to its large spectral grasp, SpeX enables a survey of the overall 'organics' region between 3.2-3.6 um simultaneously with other gas emissions [e.g., H2O]. Simultaneous measurements of the underlying continuum provide information on cometary dust grains and ice signatures, both of which are important in understanding formation conditions in the solar nebula. Because the resolution and wavelength grasp of JWST/NIRSpec and most near-IR spacecraft instruments are comparable to [or less than] those of SpeX, a long-term database of SpeX comet observations will aid in analyses and interpretation of such data, thereby addressing IRTF's role in supporting NASA missions. Specific reasons for targeting these comets: 144P is a here-to-fore unobserved JFC that will add to our knowledge of this underrepresented class; 12P is an HFC, periodic comets with longer periods than JFCs so they are rarely available for observations in good apparitions; C/2021 S3 allows for comparison of a 'fresh' OCC to more-processed periodic comets to understand evolutionary changes. To achieve our objectives, we use the LXD-short and SXD settings of SpeX. Guidedog is sufficient for guiding, so MORIS is not needed. The 0.8'' slit is used for 144P and S3, the 0.3'' slit for 12P to limit daytime backgrounds. Our request includes four runs [144P post-perihelion, 12P pre-/post-perihelion, C/2021 S3 near peak], for a total of 24 hours.
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