A&A 398, L45-L48 (2003)
DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361:20030009

Letter

Near-infrared spectroscopy of the nucleus of comet 124P/Mrkos

J. Licandro¹, H. Campins^{2, 3}, C. Hergenrother³ and L. M. Lara<sup>4

1</sup>  Isaac Newton Group of Telescopes & Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias, PO Box 321, 38700, S/C de La Palma, Tenerife, Spain
²  Department of Physics, University of Central Florida, Orlando FL, USA
³  Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson AZ, USA
⁴  Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía, CSIC, Camino Bajo de Huétor 24, 18008 Granada, Spain

(Received 26 November 2002 / Accepted 27 December 2002)

Abstract
We report near-infrared (0.9-2.3  m) spectral observations of the bare nucleus of comet 124P/Mrkos taken on two different nights using the Near Infrared Camera Spectrometer (NICS) attached to the 3.56 m Telescopio Nazionale Galileo (TNG). Both spectra are very similar, featureless and slightly redder than the Sun, resembling the spectrum of a D type asteroid. The spectrum and the low activity level of the nucleus of 124P suggest that it is covered by a large insulating dust mantle.

Key words: minor planets -- comets -- infrared

Offprint request: J. Licandro, licandro@ing.iac.es

© ESO 2003

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