Surface photometry of comet P/Encke

Details Surface photometry of comet P/Encke Surface photometry of comet P/Encke

May 1985

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1985aj.....90..869d&link_type=abstract

Astronomical Journal (ISSN 0004-6256), vol. 90, May 1985, p. 869-876. Research supported by the University of California, NSF, a

Other

10

Astronomical Photometry, Comet Nuclei, Cometary Atmospheres, Encke Comet, Molecular Spectra, Surfaces, Comets, Encke, Surface, Photometry, Image Processing, Technique, Comae, Telescopic Methods, Spectra, Comet Nuclei, Composition, Ice, Evaporation, Radiation, Pressure, Molecules, Source, Observations

Scientific paper

A scheme to clean cometary digital images from offending background-star trails, and this technique has been applied to a pair of deep Kitt Peak 4-m plates of comet P/Encke, taken in October 1980. Simultaneous and subsequent digital spectra have been obtained at Lick Observatory. The non-polluted coma images show a strong asymmetric sunward-oriented fan/jet, and an extended and rounder (mostly gaseous) main coma, out to approximately 100,000 km radius. The stellar-trail point-spread function has a narrow width (sigma approximately 0.6 arcsec), so that spatial resolution better than approximately 300 km is achieved at the comet. The photometric gradient near the nucleus is very steep, strongly suggesting an icy-grain component which evaporates quickly (at radii equal to or less than 500 km) in the sunlight. Further from the nucleus, the profile becomes shallower, bluer, and more gas dominated. The effect of solar radiation pressure on C2, CN, and other molecules is probably responsible for the rounding of the outer, fainter isophotes. The source of the molecules is likely to be larger than the nucleus itself, and a substantial fraction may originate in the jet. The technique described here may also be applicable in surface photometry of galaxies, in cases where the heavy image pollution by foreground stars is present.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Surface photometry of comet P/Encke does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Surface photometry of comet P/Encke, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Surface photometry of comet P/Encke will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1630683