Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy
Scientific paper
Dec 2006
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2006aas...209.2512s&link_type=abstract
2007 AAS/AAPT Joint Meeting, American Astronomical Society Meeting 209, #25.12; Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, V
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astronomy
1
Scientific paper
Comet 73/Schwassmann-Wachmann 3 was imaged from May 3-10, 2006 UT with the narrowband H-B and broadband R filters. Observations were done at the 4-meter Mayall telescope on Kitt Peak, when the comet was near its perigee passage. Extensive temporal coverage of the two brightest fragments (Components B and C) was obtained over the observing run in addition to occasional monitoring of other selected fragments.
We investigated the gas coma morphology of Component C using the CN filter, and the dust morphology using the BC, GC, and RC filters. The detailed coma morphology of the features was identified with the help of multiple image enhancement techniques. We analyzed the time evolution of the coma features in order to constrain the rotational period of the nucleus. Preliminary constraints resulted in a rotational period of 8.8 ± 0.3, 13.2 ± 0.3, and 27.2 ± 0.3 hours. It is likely that the 27.2 ± 0.3 hours period may be an alias of the first constrained period. We will compare our results with other investigators using different techniques (e.g. Radar data by Nolan, et al. 2006; HST data by Toth et al. 2006, Radio data by Kuppers et al. 2006).
SS's research was supported by the NOAO/KPNO Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Program, which is funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) through Scientific Program Order No. 3 (AST-0243875) of the Cooperative Agreement No. AST-0132798 between the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA) and the NSF. NS was supported by the NASA Planetary Atmospheres Program.
A'Hearn Michael
Farnham Tony
Fernandez Yanga
Harris William
Kidder A.
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