Narrowband Observations of Comet Lulin (2007 N3)

Details Narrowband Observations of Comet Lulin (2007 N3) Narrowband Observations of Comet Lulin (2007 N3)

Sep 2009

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2009dps....41.2304k&link_type=abstract

American Astronomical Society, DPS meeting #41, #23.04

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astronomy

Scientific paper

Dynamically new Comet Lulin (2007 N3) reached perihelion in January 2009, briefly achieving naked-eye brightness as it passed within 0.4 AU of the Earth in late February. We obtained 22 nights of imaging plus 10 additional nights of snapshot observations from January 30 until May 15 using the Hall 1.1-m telescope at Lowell Observatory. Broadband and narrowband filters were used to isolate the gas and dust coma morphology, with the comet primarily monitored using the R and CN filters. There was no obvious rotational signature in the dust features. However, following the removal of median radial profiles, two side-on gas jets were seen throughout the apparition, each showing a corkscrew morphology. Using eleven nights of observations plus CN snapshots on five additional nights between January 30 and March 2, we determined an unambiguous nuclear rotation period of 42.0 +/- 0.5 hr by measuring intervals between fifteen pairs of matching CN images from various rotational cycles. Preliminary modeling yields an obliquity of the rotation axis near 95 degrees and source locations within 30 degrees of each pole. Subsequent observations in March and April were consistent with this nuclear rotation period and pole solution. We also see evidence for a seasonal change in activity from January until April as the CN jets changed in brightness relative to each other due to variation in the sub-solar latitude during the apparition. Additional modeling is ongoing and we will present these results along with an improved solution for the nuclear rotation period. This research is supported by NASA's Planetary Astronomy Program.

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