Characterization of STARDUST target comet 81P/Wild 2 from 1996 to 1998

Details Characterization of STARDUST target comet 81P/Wild 2 from 1996 to 1998 Characterization of STARDUST target comet 81P/Wild 2 from 1996 to 1998

Jan 2003

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2003a%26a...398..345s&link_type=abstract

Astronomy and Astrophysics, v.398, p.345-352 (2003)

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

14

Comets: General, Comets: Individual: 81P/Wild 2

Scientific paper

We present the results of our monitoring of comet 81P/Wild 2, the target of the STARDUST mission. Broad-band filter images and medium resolution spectra of this comet obtained along its pre- and postperihelion orbit between 1996 and 1998 were analysed in terms of coma morphology and activity. The morphological coma investigation revealed the presence of long-lasting fan structures, which remained essentially unchanged for at least three months. The (B-V) and (V-R) colour indices were determined at three different positions along the orbit. The two-dimensional analysis showed a uniform colour over the entire coma. Hence, the material composing the structures is not different from that of the underlying coma. The distribution of coma brightness as a function of projected distance from the nucleus shows no peculiarities. The evolution of the comet's activity during the pre- and postperihelion phase appears to be asymmetric in that activity increases faster preperihelion than it decreases postperihelion. The production rates (or their upper limits in the case on a non-detection) of CN, C2, C3, and NH2 were determined from the spectrophotometric observations and compared to other values published in the literature.
based on observations obtained at ESO La Silla within ESO programmes No. 57.F-0290, 58.F-0413, 58.F-0431 and 60.F-0266.

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