海尔-波普彗星

海尔－波普彗星刘麟仲在２０世纪即将结束之时，继百武彗星之后，一个肉眼可见的更亮彗星海尔─波普彗星出现了。这颗彗星是由美国天文学家海尔和天文爱好者波普于１９９５年７月２３日分别发现，故命名它为海尔─波普彗星。一特殊的轨道海尔─波普彗星有着特殊的轨道，它...     

世纪彗星来了吗？

世纪彗星来了吗？吴铭蟾很久未见大彗星１９７６年３月黎明的天空中出现过一颗明亮的彗星，它那散开的彗尾形似孔雀开屏被誉称为白孔雀彗星。它的正式名字是威斯特彗星，是欧洲南方天文台的天文学家、国际天文学联合会秘书长威斯特发现的，故此以他的名字命名。在此之后，...     

“世纪彗星”的风采

“世纪彗星”的风采卞德培两位美国业余天文爱好者海尔和波普，于１９９５年７月２３日在观测人马座的Ｍ７０球状星团时，分别发现了一个模糊的雾状天体。后来证实他们看到的是同一颗彗星，并被命名为“海尔－波普彗星”。彗星的亮度使他们十分惊讶，还远在１０亿公里之外...     

海尔—波普彗星的位置与我们的观测策略

根据星历表，本文绘出运行轨道图，分析了百武彗星与海尔－波普彗星的不同，讨论了对后者观测应当考虑的一些问题。     

彗星知识漫谈

彗星知识漫谈彗星是太阳系内的一种小天体，因其形态奇特而为人们瞩目。我国唐代著名诗人李贺曾在“梦天”一诗里，用“一泓海水杯中泻”的佳句描写了彗星出现在湛蓝色夜空时的情景，可谓出神入化。彗星并不多见。据记载，人类有史以来仅观测到大约二千多次彗星，其中亮度...     

彗星猎手──周兴明

彗星猎手──周兴明王梅周兴明，这个被香港天文学会称为“中国彗星猎手”的年轻人，这个普通的气象工作者，１１年来，坚持业余观测管星，用气象测风仪和２０倍的望远镜独立发现了１６颗新彗星，成为中国屈指可数的业余寻彗星中最有成绩的一位。中国那么大，为什么总是外...     

寻找彗星的望远镜

寻找彗星的望远镜张大庆１９９６年１月３１日凌晨（日本当地时间），日本鹿儿岛县的天文爱好者百武裕司，用他的２５×１５０ＦＵＪＩＮＯＮ双筒望远镜，在天秤座发现了一颗亮度１１等星的新彗星，这就是被新闻媒介广泛报道的“百武彗星”，编号Ｃ／１９９６Ｂ２。这是百...     

一年之内三大天象奇观──百武彗星、海尔－波普彗星和日全食

一年之内三大天象奇观──百武彗星、海尔－波普彗星和日全食李启斌，赵刚从今年３月到明年３月的一年之内，百武彗星、海尔－波普彗星、日全食三大天象奇观相继出现，这一千载难逢的机遇，受到了公众的广泛关注。这里我们向大家介绍一下这些天象的基本情况。一、海尔－波...     

烈火中重生的彗星物质

从去年年底至今年年初,似乎什么彗星也比不上Lovejoy彗星那么出彩。它真正成为了一颗明星,闯进了太阳的禁宫,又勇猛地一路冲杀出来,并以灿烂的光辉显示它几十年才有一个的英雄形象。掠日彗星家族中像它这样幸运的,当然非常少。现在几乎每一天,SOHO彗星都可以观测到有一颗掠日彗星被太阳火葬。去年夏天,一颗比Lovejoy彗星小得多的彗星,被太阳神严厉地处以了极刑。不过,天文学家有幸第一次目睹了整个的惩罚过程。     

暑假看彗星

暑假看彗星吴光节暑假就要到了。今年的暑假，您不仅可以领略夜空中那浩瀚的宇宙、神秘的银河，海尔一波普彗星还从远方给您带来了数千年才有一次的问候。海尔－波普彗星是去年７月份被美国天文爱好者海尔和波普于同一个晚上分别发现的。这颗彗星不同寻常。除了个头特别大...     

Circular polarization in comets: Observations of Comet C/1999 S4 (LINEAR) and tentative interpretation

Comet C/1999 S4 (LINEAR) was exceptional in many respects. Its nucleus underwent multiple fragmentations culminating in the complete disruption around July 20, 2000. We present circular polarization measurements along the cuts through the coma and nucleus of the comet during three separate observing runs, in June 28-July 2, July 8-9, and July 21-22, 2000. The circular polarization was detected at a rather high level, up to 0.8%. The left-handed as well as right-handed polarization was observed over the coma with the left circularly polarized light systematically observed in the sunward part of the coma. During our observations the phase angle of the comet varied from 61 up to 122°, which allowed us to reveal variations of circular polarization with the phase angle. Correlation between the degree of circular polarization, visual magnitude, water production rate, and linear polarization of Comet C/1999 S4 (LINEAR) during its final fragmentation in July 2000 was found. The mechanisms that may produce circular polarization in comets and specifically in Comet C/1999 S4 (LINEAR) are discussed and some tentative interpretation is presented.     

Optical polarimetry of Comet NEAT C/2001 Q4

Comet NEAT C/2001 Q4 was observed for linear polarization using the optical polarimeter mounted at the 1.2 m telescope at Mt. Abu Observatory, during the months of May and June 2004. Observations were conducted through the International Halley Watch narrow band (continuum) and BVR broad band filters. During the observing run the phase angle ranged from 85.6° in May to 55° in June. As expected, polarization increases with wavelength in this phase angle range. Polarization colour in the narrow bands changes at different epochs, perhaps related to cometary activity or molecular emission contamination. The polarization was also measured in the cometary coma at different locations along a line, in the direction of the tail. As expected, we notice minor decrease in the polarization as photocenter (nucleus) is traversed while brightness decreases sharply away from it. Based on these polarization observations we infer that the Comet NEAT C/2001 Q4 has high polarization and a typical grain composition—mixture of silicates and organics.     

The gas production of Comet 9P/Tempel 1 around the Deep Impact date

The target of the Deep Impact space mission (NASA), Comet 9P/Tempel 1, was observed from two nights before impact to eight nights after impact using the FORS spectrographs at the ESO VLT UT1 and UT2 telescopes. Low resolution optical long-slit spectra were obtained to study the evolution of the gas coma around the Deep Impact event. Following first results of this observing campaign on the CN and dust activity [Rauer, H., Weiler, M., Sterken, C., Jehin, E., Knollenberg, J., Hainaut, O., 2006. Astron. Astrophys. 459, 257-263], this work presents a study of the complete dataset on CN, C₂, C₃, and NH₂ activity of Comet 9P/Tempel 1. An extended impact gas cloud was observed moving radially outwards. No compositional differences between this impact cloud and the undisturbed coma were found as far as the observed radicals are concerned. The gas production rates before and well after impact indicate no change in the cometary activity on an intermediate time scale. Over the observing period, the activity of Comet 9P/Tempel 1 was found to be related to the rotation of the cometary nucleus. The rotational lightcurve for different gaseous species provides indications for compositional differences among different parts of the nucleus surface.     

On the rotational breakup of cometary nuclei and centaurs

Here we estimate the regions of stability, fragmentation, and destruction for cometary bodies versus rotational breakup in the radius-rotational period plane. By testing different plausible physical models of the cometary nucleus equation of state, we show that the plane is divided into 3 segments: the allowed, damaged, and forbidden regions. We then compare the location of well-observed comets with respect to the separation lines. The range of constituent material parameters from the literature for cometary nuclei are used to show that all the observed comets lie in the allowed region, except for Comet C/1995 O1 (Hale-Bopp), which resides in the damaged region (where the body is fractured and only held together gravitationally). We speculate that the extremely high activity demonstrated by Comet Hale-Bopp during the 1997 apparition may have been due to its highly fractured state. Comet Hyakutake, observed to emit fragments at perigee in 1996, may be near the boundary of the damaged region. Comet C/1999 S4 (LINEAR) was solidly in the rotationally allowed region, making its disintegration in July 2000 due to centrifugal forces unlikely. In contrast to the comets, the centaurs do not cluster in the allowed region, with the majority falling instead into the rotationally damaged and forbidden regions. The centaurs are only stable against breakup assuming much stronger solid water ice properties, strongly suggesting that on the whole, these bodies have different bulk physical properties than cometary nuclei.     

Orbit of periodic comet 153P/Ikeya–Zhang

The orbit of Comet C/2002C1 (Ikeya–Zhang) has a similarity to that of Comet C/1661C1 (Hevelius), and the numerical integration of the motion of C/2002C1 backward shows a possible linkage of those two comets. Thus, 153P/Ikeya–Zhang was designated a periodic comet. Historical records of comets in 877 and 1273 are also identified with Comet 153P/Ikeya–Zhang. The integrated orbital elements during 77 and 2362, and historical records of the comet are also presented and discussed.     

Comparative Study Of The Dust Polarimetric Properties In Split And Normal Comets

Our polarimetric database contains six comets, C/1975 V1 (West), 16P/Brooks 2,C/1988 A1 (Liller), D/1996 Q1 (Tabur), C/1999 S4 (LINEAR), and C/2001 A2(LINEAR), which can be related to the group of split comets. Comets West, S4(LINEAR) and A2 (LINEAR) were observed during splitting. We compare thepolarimetric measurements of the dust particles in these comets, sometimes togetherwith available photometric and colorimetric data, with those in normal comets. Weconclude that there is no significant evidence for differences of polarization betweentidally split comets (e.g., Brooks 2), dissipating comets (e.g., Tabur), non-tidally splitcomets (e.g., West) and normal comets. The total disintegration of Comet S4 (LINEAR), however, did produce significant changes in the observed properties of dust.     

Orbits of Comets C/1845 L1 (Great June Comet) and C/1846 D1 (de Vico)

Orbits are calculated for Comet C/1845 L1 (the Great June Comet) and C/1846 D1 (de Vico), the former based on 157 observations in right ascension and 152 in declination and the latter on 10 and 9, respectively. Both orbits are hyperbolic and statistically distinguishable from parabolas. Statistical tests indicate that the residuals are random and thus the orbits satisfactory. The Great June Comet is in no way associated with the comet Tycho Brahe observed in 1596 (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Pre-perihelion CCD photometry of Comet 1995 01 (Hale-Bopp)

Systematic CCD photometry of Comet 1995 O1 (Hale-Bopp) began in early August 1995 shortly after its discovery (IAU Circular 6187) and continued until mid-November 1996. The light curve derived from a 34″ square centered on the nucleus shows clearly and objectively how the inner regions of the comet brightened during this 15 month period. Possible connections between sudden brightenings and reported outbursts are investigated. During the interval August–December 1995, the magnitude of the comet showed strong evidence of a periodicity of 20±5 days with a full amplitude of approximately 0.20 mag. It is noteworthy that this result spans both the period of 18 days suggested by Sekanina (1995, 1996) and the “superperiod” of 22±2 days reported by Jorda et al. (1997). However, in 1996 neither this periodicity nor any other could be detected with certainty in the photometric data.     

ARE ASTEROID 2003 EH1 AND COMET C/1490 Y1 DYNAMICALLY RELATED?

The orbit of asteroid 2003 EH1 is very similar to the mean orbit of the Quadrantid meteoroid stream so that a close relationship between the two is very likely. It has already been suggested that Comet C/1490 Y1 could be the parent of the Quadrantids. If this is the case, then some relationship between the comet and the asteroid might be expected. The orbit of C/1490 Y1 is based on a short observing arc of about 6 weeks and all the observations were with the naked eye, so that its elements are very poorly determined. Hence, forward integration to determine whether asteroid 2003 EH1 represents the re-discovery of the dormant nucleus of C/1490 Y1 is not feasible. Instead we choose to integrate back in time the orbit of 2003 EH1, which is far better determined, and a family of 3500 clones, all of which are moving on an orbit that is consistent with the present known orbit of 2003EH1. We compare the results primarily with the recorded observations of the comet rather than the orbit of the comet derived by Hasegawa. We find that one clone is consistent with these observations.     

Temporal deconvolution of the hydrogen coma: II. Pre- and post-perihelion activity of Comet Hyakutake (1996 B2)

Comet 1996 B2 (Hyakutake) displayed strong evidence for break-up, with a prominent antisunward dust spike and fragments traveling antisunward for many days after an eruptive event in late March 1996. Because of its high orbital inclination and rapid southward motion after perihelion, its post-perihelion activity was not well monitored from the ground. The SWAN all-sky Lyman-alpha camera on the SOHO spacecraft was ideally placed for long-term monitoring of the hydrogen coma of Comet Hyakutake both before and after perihelion. The SWAN images were analyzed with a new time-resolved model (TRM) that provides daily averages of the water production rate and an estimate of the hydrogen atom lifetime (dominated by charge exchange with solar wind protons) during extended periods throughout the apparition. A long-term variation of water production rate of , where r is the heliocentric distance in AU was found. The daily average values of the production rate covered the March 19 outburst and two more outbursts seen in the April before perihelion, which had progressively shorter durations at respectively smaller heliocentric distances. The long-term variation of the production rate was found to be consistent with the seasonal effect predicted by the jet rotation model of Schleicher and Woodney [2003. Analyses of dust coma morphology of Comet Hyakutake (1996 B2) near perigee: Outburst behavior, jet motion, source region locations, and the nucleus pole orientation. Icarus 162, 190-213] when added to a more steady source that is about two-thirds of the maximum of the jet source. The seasonal effect in their model found the dust jet source largely not illuminated after perihelion, coinciding with somewhat reduced overall activity and the absence of outbursts and fragmentation. The locations of the dust jets appear to be responsible for the outbursts and fragmentation before perihelion. The erratic behavior of the pre-perihelion jet sources as contrasted with the smoother variation from the rest of the surface after perihelion indicates there is a strong heterogeneity in the physical make-up of active areas on the nucleus.