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Rationalization of Comet Halley's periodsThe sense of long axis orientation of Comet Halley during the Vega 1 encounter must be reversed from that deduced by Sagdeev et al. (1986) in order to harmonize the comet nucleus' Vega/Giotto-observed orientations with periodicities extracted from time-series brightness data. It is also demonstrated that Vega/Giotto observations can be satisfied by either a 2.2- or 3.7-day long-axis free precession period. A novel Fourier algorithm is used to reanalyze five independent data sets; strong evidence is adduced for periods harmonically related to a 7.4-day period. The preferred candidate models for Halley's nuclear rotation are characterized by a long-axis precession period of 3.7 days.
Document ID
19900053374
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Belton, Michael J. S.
(National Optical Astronomy Observatories Tucson, AZ, United States)
Date Acquired
August 14, 2013
Publication Date
July 1, 1990
Publication Information
Publication: Icarus
Volume: 86
ISSN: 0019-1035
Subject Category
Astrophysics
Accession Number
90A40429
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NASA ORDER W-16492
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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