A high-resolution infrared spectral survey of Comet C/1999 H1 Lee

Abstract We obtained high-resolution ( λ / Δ λ ∼ 25 , 000 ) spectra of Comet C/1999 H1 (Lee) on UT 1999 August 19.6 and 21.6 using the cross-dispersed Near InfraRed SPECtrometer (NIRSPEC) at the Keck Observatory atop Mauna Kea, HI. Here we present spectra of Comet Lee between 2.874 and 3.701 μm (3479–2702 cm−1) representing the most complete high-resolution infrared survey of a comet to date in this wavelength region. Using published line lists and laboratory spectra we have identified 444 of the 545 distinct emission features present in these spectra. We have tabulated the rest frequencies, assignments, relative intensities, and signal-to-noise ratios of all detected emissions. In addition to gaining insights into the chemistry of Comet Lee, this survey provides a valuable tool for planning future high-resolution infrared observations of comets and other astronomical targets, and for retrospective comparison to existing high-resolution infrared datasets.

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