Lyman-alpha observations of Comet West /1975n/

Details Lyman-alpha observations of Comet West /1975n/ Lyman-alpha observations of Comet West /1975n/

Aug 1977

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1977icar...31..503o&link_type=abstract

Icarus, vol. 31, Aug. 1977, p. 503-509. NASA-supported research.

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astronomy

13

Astronomical Photometry, Comet Nuclei, Lyman Alpha Radiation, Astronomical Models, Hydrogen Atoms, Kohoutek Comet, Optical Thickness, Radiation Pressure, Rocket-Borne Instruments

Scientific paper

The rate of hydrogen production of Comet West is studied through rocket observation of solar Lyman-alpha radiation resonantly scattered by the escaping hydrogen atoms. Two sets of Lyman-alpha exposure sequences are used to obtain computer-smoothed brightness contour (isophote) maps covering a density range of 100:1. A simple radial outflow model is applied to the contour maps to determine the rate of hydrogen production (3.2 by 10 to the 30th power atoms/sec.) Discrepancies between the observed shape of the outer isophotes and predicted models may be explained by optical depth effects, or by the presence of small pieces of the comet's nucleus distributed along the orbit. Hydrogen, carbon, and oxygen production for Comet West and Comet Kohoutek are compared; differences may be accounted for by variations in the composition or evolution of the two comets.

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