Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics
Scientific paper
Nov 1987
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1987a%26a...187..575f&link_type=abstract
Astronomy and Astrophysics (ISSN 0004-6361), vol. 187, no. 1-2, Nov. 1987, p. 575-580.
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
25
Comet Nuclei, Halley'S Comet, Light Curve, Periodic Variations, Rotation
Scientific paper
Early photometric measurements of comet P/Halley exhibit a photometric periodicity of 7.307±0.005 days. Brightness variations occur together with the periodic release of solid particles during bursts of activity or activity increases of the nucleus. The mechanical behavior of the comet nucleus can be described as that of an axisymmetric ellipsoid. In the torque free approximation it is found that the nucleus rotates about its long axis in 14.614 days. A free precession about an axis tilted by 84° to the rotation axis occurs in 2.088 days. Due to the peculiar geometry, the true photometric period is 14.6 days with two halves nearly identical, thus mimicking a periodicity of 7.3 days. The permanence of the rotation during at least half the apparition of the comet indicates that no internal damping of the nucleus rotation exists and that the nucleus must then be rigid.
Drossart Pierre
Encrenaz Th.
Festou Michael C.
Lecacheux J.J.
Puel François
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