Discovery of the Atomic Iron Tail of Comet M<scp>c</scp>Naught Using the Heliospheric Imager on<i>STEREO</i>

Abstract

In 2007 January, at the heliocentric distance r < 0.3 AU, comet McNaught 2006P1 became the brightest comet since C/Ikeya-Seki 1965S1 and was continuously monitored by space-based solar observatories. We provide strong evidence that an archlike tail observed by the Heliospheric Imager aboard the STEREO spacecraft is the first ever detected tail composed of neutral Fe atoms. We obtain an Fe lifetime τ = (4.1 ± 0.4) × 10⁴s at r = 0.25 AU, in agreement with theoretical predictions of the photoionization lifetime. The expected dust temperature is inconsistent with iron sublimation, suggesting that Fe atoms are coming from troilite evaporation.