Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics
Scientific paper
Sep 1994
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1994a%26a...289..304f&link_type=abstract
Astronomy and Astrophysics (ISSN 0004-6361), vol. 289, no. 1, p. 304-310
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
16
Comet Nuclei, Density (Mass/Volume), Light Curve, Rotation, Stellar Magnitude, Astronomical Photometry, Charge Coupled Devices, Data Reduction, Image Analysis, Software Development Tools
Scientific paper
We have obtained post-perihelion CCD images of Comet P/Levy 1991XI when it was 2.2 AU from Earth and 3.1 AU from the sun. Inspection of the comet images shows seeing profiles very similar to those of field stars, with a contribution to the measured flux from associated coma of only 4%, implying that the bare nucleus was observed. The same images show a faint anti-tail whose morphology implies that we observed the nucleus shortly after it had ceased outgassing. Differential photometry with field stars has allowed us to detect a periodic modulation in the light curve attributed to the rotation of the nucleus, implying a spin period of 8.34 hours. From the amplitude of the lightcurve and the absolute magnitude we deduce that the nucleus is elongated with dimensions in the ratio 1:1.3 or larger, and possesses a mean effective radius of less than or = 8.2 km if an albedo pR greater than or = 2% is assumed. The mean density of the nucleus is greater than or = 200 km/cu m. This comet has extremely similar physical dimensions and orbital parameters to comet P/Halley, but has a spin period more typical of main-belt asteroids.
Fitzsimmons Alan
Williams Iwan P.
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