Nuclear Lightcurve Observations of Short Period Comets

Details Nuclear Lightcurve Observations of Short Period Comets Nuclear Lightcurve Observations of Short Period Comets

Aug 2000

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2000noao.prop...52m&link_type=abstract

NOAO Proposal ID #2000B-0052

Physics

Scientific paper

We are proposing to observe rotational lightcurves of the nuclei of several short period comets which are either inactive or weakly active. Our primary goal is to derive rotational periods for these comets. Minimal axial ratios and effective nuclear cross sections (for a known or assumed albedo) will also be calculated whenever possible. During the 2000B semester we will observe comets 31P/Schwassmann- Wachmann 2 and 82P/Gehrels 3 thus expanding the currently available meager database on cometary rotation (e.g. Meech 1999). Our ultimate goal is to create a substantial database of rotational parameters of short period comets so when taken individually and/or collectively they will (1) facilitate accurate interpretation of many observations of comae and nuclei; (2) provide estimates to the structural parameters of comets thus constraining the formation mechanisms of comets in the solar nebula and the corresponding environment of the solar nebula itself; (3) serve as a necessary reservoir of inputs to studies on cometary spin-orbit coupling and non- gravitational forces which help us understand physical and dynamical evolution; and (4) significantly increase the available database on cometary rotational parameters thus making future comparisons between Jupiter family comets and Trans-Neptunian Objects possible.

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