title: Solid C triple bond N bearing material on outer solar system bodies.
abstract: Using telescopic observations by ourselves and other observers, we have identified cyano-group containing molecules in the very dark solids on the surfaces of a few D-class asteroids, the dust of some comets, and low-albedo hemisphere of Iapetus, and the rings of Uranus, through spectroscopic detection of the 2.2-micrometers overtone of the C triple bond N stretching fundamental mode.  The occurrence of this band on all four classes of small Solar System bodies may be diagnostic of the duration of exposure and degree of modification of surface materials, and may also establish a link between outer Solar System and interstellar materials.
authors.affiliation: NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, California 94035, USA.
authors.forename: D P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Cruikshank
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Allamandola
authors.forename: W K
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Hartmann
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Tholen
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: C N
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Matthews
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Bell
mesh_terms: D002244:Carbon / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*; D004391:Dust / Q000032:analysis; D006838:Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D006856:Hydrogen Cyanide / Q000737:chemistry; D007053:Ice; D018543:Minor Planets; D008956:Models, Chemical; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*; D016082:Solar System; D013057:Spectrum Analysis; D018540:Uranus
chemical_list: D004391:Dust; D006838:Hydrocarbons; D007053:Ice; D006856:Hydrogen Cyanide; D002244:Carbon; D009584:Nitrogen