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The gas distribution of comet Halley and its relation to the nucleus rotationWe used a set of spatially resolved spectra of comet Halley to explore whether the gas distribution profile could be inverted to yield information on the rotation of the comet. The data were obtained both pre- and post-perihelion. The pre-perihelion data showed reasonable symmetry and so were used to define the lifetimes against photodissociation of the various molecules. These lifetimes were then used to define the lifetimes against photodissociation of the various molecules. These lifetimes were then used along with a nonsteady-state vectorial model to fit the post-perihelion gas distribution profiles. The resulting molecular lightcurves are compared with the photometric lightcurves of Schlicher et al. (1990) to show that the rotational information is encoded in the observed gas distribution within the coma. The molecular lightcurves can differentiate between the preferred Schlicher et al. average period and the period they find for the same time interval as the spectra.
Document ID
19950032402
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
External Source(s)
Authors
Cochran, Anita L.
(Univ. of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX United States)
Trout, Anthony P.
(Univ. of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX United States)
Date Acquired
August 16, 2013
Publication Date
October 1, 1994
Publication Information
Publication: The Astronomical Journal
Volume: 108
Issue: 4
ISSN: 0004-6256
Subject Category
Astronomy
Accession Number
95A64001
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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