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Observation of a rapid decrease in the brightness of the coma of 2060 Chiron in 1990 JanuaryPhotometric observations of 2060 Chiron in the V and R filters were obtained with the 1.5-m telescope on Palomar Mountain during a 7-hr period on January 20, 1990 (UT). A general decrease of about 10 percent in integrated brightness occurred in both filters. No color dependence to the decrease was observed. A small (about 0.02 mag) rotational light curve, far smaller than the 0.09 mag (peak-to-peak) one observed by Bus et al. (1989) is superposed on the general decrease. On January 29, 1990, Luu and Jewitt (1990) observed an impulsive brightening of Chiron of approximately the same magnitude and time scale as the presently observed decrease in brightness. The combined results provide evidence that Chiron is currently exhibiting short-term fluctuations in the brightness of its coma, in addition to its well-established general decrease in brightness.
Document ID
19910034472
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
External Source(s)
Authors
Buratti, Bonnie J.
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Dunbar, R. Scott
(JPL; Palomar Observatory Pasadena, CA, United States)
Date Acquired
August 15, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1991
Publication Information
Publication: Astrophysical Journal, Part 2 - Letters
Volume: 366
ISSN: 0004-637X
Subject Category
Astronomy
Accession Number
91A19095
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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