The secret life of the comet P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1

Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy

Scientific paper

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Cometary Atmospheres, Light Curve, Schwassmann-Wachmann Comet, Astronomical Photography, Brightness, Magnitude, Orbital Elements, Secular Variations, Variability

Scientific paper

A review of observations of comet P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1 is presented, with emphasis on observations obtained between 1981 and 1986, and synthetic brightness curves for the two best observed bursts are analyzed in detail. Methods for the observation of this comet are discussed. For the April 1981 burst, an approximate recurrence of five days is found, in agreement with the period of rotation found by Whipple (1980). Theoretical interpretations of the comet's activity are considered, and it is suggested that the large dimensions of the core, with a suggested maximum diameter of about 130 km, create special gravitational conditions. An absolute magnitude of the core at rest of 9.8 + or - 0.3 is determined, and results suggest that the core equator is inclined about 65 deg on the orbital plane.

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