哈雷彗星Ⅰ型彗尾风差角的测定

1986年3月8日哈雷彗星发生一次Ⅰ型彗尾断尾事件,新主尾与老主尾的风差角不同。本文对我们所摄哈雷彗星大尺度底片,用光度测量方法定出主尾轴的视风差角;并且用导出的公式,算出相应的真风差角。最后,对所得结果进行一些讨论。     

哈雷彗星与彗星研究

彗星是太阳系的一种奇特天体。在太阳辐射和太阳风作用下,彗星发生一系列物理过程和化学过程,表现为外貌形态(彗发、彗尾)、亮度、光谱及运动特性等多种变化。彗星研究是天文学和空间科学的重要课题,对于了解太阳系起源、有机分子仍至生命起源、太阳风及等离子体过程都有重要意义。 著名的哈雷彗星将在1985—86年再次回归到内太阳系。它有多种彗星现象,从地面到近地空间及空间会合的各种观测及样品分析,预料会取得彗星研究的新进展。本文先概述国际哈雷彗星联测(IHW)的计划;然后,评述彗星研究的一些进展,包括:(1)彗星的化学组成和化学过程;(2)尘埃彗尾和颗粒;(3)等离子体彗尾;(4)彗发;(5)彗星的亮度、爆发和分裂;(6)彗核的蒸发、寿命及非引力效应;(7)彗核,其中也包括我国的彗星研究情况。     

尘埃彗尾的结构

本文以“三维的”粒子运动讨论了尘埃彗尾的结构,为了便于使用电子计算机和讨论各种μ值的粒子的运动,引入哈密顿积分 b,获得了以三维矢量和适用于各种μ值的开普勒运动的各个公式.考虑粒子的三维运动及其运动范围,使过近日点后的尘埃彗尾出现一“颈线结构”.利用此颈线解释向日尾并分析了其产生的可能性.最后给出了一种定量分析尘埃彗尾亮度分布的方法,本法的基本想法是在考虑有关粒子抛射的函数条件下,计算取样粒子的运动,并利用计数法求出其数密度.本文结果在所取函数条件下是一严格解.应用时,我们假定两函数N.(t_i),ψ(v;r,t)及 v_0的函数形式,以有关粒子性质的函数 f(r)为参量,分析了阿朗-罗兰彗星的尘埃彗尾(包括向日尾)的亮度分布(图14,15),并得到函数 f(r)(图16).     

上海天文台25米射电望远镜哈雷彗星射电观测

1985年11月29日至12月7日,在哈雷彗星第一次过近地点期间,中国科学院上海天文台与电子工业部西北电子设备研究所合作,用新研制的25米射电望远镜在2.8厘米波段进行了哈雷彗星的射电连续谱观测。观测采用on-off方法,每天观测的总积分时间为2,400—8,900秒。接收机噪声起伏(1秒积分)一般小于0.1K。为了提高信噪比,将六天观测结果加权平均,得到哈雷彗星在2.8厘米的射电连续谱辐射的流量密度为36±17mJy,观测期间的平均地心距△=0.647AU;平均日心距r=1.46AU。这是初步结果,还需要进一步分析和验证。 彗星的射电辐射分为连续谱和谱线两种。连续谱辐射一般认为主要来自彗星冰粒晕(Icy grainsHalo)区域的尘埃、冰粒的热辐射,通过对它的射电流量密度的观测,可以得到彗星的物理性质的信息:例如射电辐射区的大小及其变化、亮温度、密     

海尔─波普彗星观测有重要新发现

海尔─波普彗星观测有重要新发现设在云南丽江的云台高美古天文观测站，目前在对海尔─波普彗星观测中，观测到彗星彗头的反向喷流，气体彗尾的弯曲、折断、分叉及空洞等重要新现象；并获得一大批对科研有十分重要、珍贵意义的最新观测资料。自海尔─波普彗星于１９９５年...     

青岛观象台海尔—波普慧星观测

中国科学院紫金山天文台青岛观象台从1996年4月开始到1995年5月1日结束,在138个观测夜,共拍摄Hale-Bopp彗星底片508张。发现:Hale-Bopp彗星在1996年9月24日的一次爆发,1996年10月26日,11月13日的两次可能爆发。在1996年9月23日的底片上,Hale-Bopp呈现巨大的喷流。在1997年2月8日至5月1日期间,Hale-Bopp彗星彗头内存在大量壳层结构。     

离子彗星的稳定性

介绍了彗星等离子体的结构和稳定性的研究情况，着重于离子彗尾，更着重于介绍在这方面国内的工作。     

风靡全球的世纪大明星────哈雷彗星

风靡全球的世纪大明星────哈雷彗星彗星是浪迹太阳系的漂泊者，有的穿梭于行星之间，以极短的周期围绕太阳运动，有的则从行星领域的最远处直奔太阳而来，随即扬长而去。谈到彗星，历史上大概没有比哈雷彗星更引人注目了。７６年才出现一次的哈雷彗星，由于外观壮丽、...     

彗星情报站

2006年3月共发现并命名了4颗彗星。这四颗彗星发现时的亮度都不高,今后亮度也不会有太大的变化。C/2006 A1(Pojmanski)在3月里的亮度一直在8等以上,还是爱好者的小望远镜观测的理想目标。4月10日,彗星亮度降低到9等,今后会越来越暗,5月里预计降到11等以下。73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 在3月里发现的碎块越来越多,到4月初已经发现了40块,估计随着彗星逐渐接近近日点,还会有更多的碎块发现。3月底彗     

对1983d彗星的观测

1983年5月9日世界时13时30分我肉眼发现小熊星座中有一雾状星体,用35厘米反射望远镜对它目视观测后确认为彗星,同事张运林也对此进行了观测证实。接着,请SBG照相仪组的同志拍摄了彗星照片(照片1),目视测得彗星总亮度约为3~m5,彗发直径约20′,无明显彗尾,动向约为:赤经-10~m/小时,赤纬+10′/小时。5月10日再次对彗星作了观测(照片2)。后来得知,这颗彗星即为IRAS-Araki-Alcock——1983d彗星。     

Dust tail streamers of a comet with rotating nucleus

Synthetic images of the dust tail are presented for a comet which has a rotating nucleus with one predominant dust source fixed to it. The images have been generated using a new computer model which, unlike similar models, allows for the study of dust tails caused by a rotating nucleus with an anisotropic distribution of sources.The dust tail is studied in the post-perihelion phase of a parabolic comet with a perihelion distance of 0.5 AU. One finds that in the case of a rotating nucleus with anisotropic emission characteristics streamers caused solely by the dynamics of the dust particles are forming in the dust tail even if there is no dependence between the solar irradiation angle of the source and the amount of dust emitted. If the dust emission depends on the solar irradiation angle of the dust source, then the brightest tail regions do not necessarily coincide with the synchrones for the times of maximum dust emission.As a consequence, a thorough analysis of streamer patterns in a cometary dust tail requires assumptions on the rotational state and the dust source distribution of the nucleus. Otherwise, it seems not possible to discern between streamers which are caused dynamically by nucleus rotation and others which reflect variations in the emission activity.     

Infrared emission from comets

A brief discussion of the infrared observations from 4 to 20 micrometers of seven comets is presented. The observed infrared emission from comets depends primarily on their heliocentric distance. A model based on grain populations composed of a mixture of silicate and amorphous carbon particles in the mass ratio of about 40 to 1, with a power-law size distribution similar to that inferred for comet Halley, is applied to the observations. The model provides a good match to the observed heliocentric variation of both the 10 micrometers feature and the overall thermal emission from comets West and Halley. Matches to the observations of comet IRAS-Araki-Alcock and the antitail of comet Kohoutek require slightly larger grains. While the model does not match the exact profile and position of the 3.4 micrometers feature discovered in comet Halley, it does produce a qualitative fit to the observed variation of the feature's strength as a function of heliocentric distance. The calculations predict that the continuum under the 3.4 micrometers feature is due primarily to thermal emission from the comet dust when the comet is close to the Sun and to scattered solar radiation at large heliocentric distances, as is observed. A brief discussion of the determination of cometary grain temperatures from the observed infrared emission is presented. It is found that the observed shape of the emission curve from about 4 to 8 micrometers provides the best spectral region for estimating the cometary grain temperature distribution.     

On the visibility of nuclei of dusty comets

The problem of visibility of a cometary nucleus discussed in general terms for single scattering by dust grains. The ratio of radiatio scattered in the dust column above the surface and that reflected from the nucleus determines the visibility of features on the nuclear surface. A contrast parameter characterizing the ration of radiation foming from the nuclear surface and that of the nuclear vicinity describes the visibility of the full nucleus against the dust fore- and background. These quantities and the intensity distribution of scattered solar radiation across the nucleus and its vicinity are calculated for the case of comet Halley at a heliocentric distance of 0.9 AU after perihelion (Giotto encounter). The scattering calculations are based on an isotropic dust distribution derived from hydrodynamics gas-dust interactions resulting in a steep densiity increase right above the surface. For Newburn's nominal model of comet Halley, an optical depth of about 0.5 impairs the visibility of the nucleus somewhat.     

Evidence for the nucleus rotation in streamer patterns of Comet Halley's dust tail

A generalized Finson-Probstein formalism was used to analyse the streamer patterns in the dust tail of Comet Halley as observed between 22 February and 11 March, 1986. A periodic appearance of a pattern of double streamers was found in the dust tail, indicating a time interval in the emission of this structures of about 6.5 days, if interpreted as synchrones. The time interval between the emission of the two components of each double streamer is about 2.5 days. The results are discussed with respect to the rotation of Halley's nucleus.This work is based on observations made at the European Southern Observatory by ESO staff personal and by observers of the Astronomical Institute of the Ruhr-University, Bochum. We, furthermore, used an exposure made at the U.K. Schmidt telescope at Siding Spring, Australia, operated by the Royal Observatory Edinburgh, and published by Sekanina and Larson (1986).     

Dust tail of the active distant Comet C/2003 WT42 (LINEAR) studied with photometric and spectroscopic observations

We present the study of dust environment of dynamically new Comet C/2003 WT42 (LINEAR) based on spectroscopic and photometric observations. The comet was observed before and after the perihelion passage at heliocentric distances from 5.2 to 9.5 AU. Although the comet moved beyond the zone where water ice sublimation could be significant, its bright coma and extended dust tail evidenced the high level of physical activity. Afρ values exceeded 3000 cm likely reaching its maximum before the perihelion passage. At the same time, the spectrum of the comet did not reveal molecular emission features above the reflected continuum. Reddening of the continuum derived from the cometary spectrum is nonlinear along the dispersion with the steeper slop in the blue region. The pair of the blue and red continuum images was analyzed to estimate a color of the comet. The mean normalized reflectivity gradient derived from the innermost part of the cometary coma equals to 8% per 1000 Å that is typical for Oort cloud objects. However, the color map shows that the reddening of the cometary dust varies over the coma increasing to 15% per 1000 Å along the tail axis. The photometric images were fitted with a Monte Carlo model to construct the theoretical brightness distribution of the cometary coma and tail and to investigate the development of the cometary activity along the orbit. As the dust particles of distant comets are expected to be icy, we propose here the model, which describes the tail formation taking into account sublimation of grains along their orbits. The chemical composition and structure of these particles are assumed to correspond with Greenberg’s interstellar dust model of comet dust. All images were fitted with the close values of the model parameters. According to the results of the modeling, the physical activity of the comet is mainly determined by two active areas with outflows into the wide cones. The obliquity of the rotation axis of the nucleus equals to 20° relative to the comet’s orbital plane. The grains occupying the coma and tail are rather large amounting to 1 mm in size, with the exponential size distribution of a^−4.5. The outflow velocities of the dust particles vary from a few centimeters to tens of meters per second depending on their sizes. Our observations and the model findings evidence that the activity of the nucleus decreased sharply to a low-level phase at the end of April–beginning of May 2007. About 190 days later, in the first half of November 2007 the nucleus stopped any activity, however, the remnant tail did not disappear for more than 1.5 years at least.     

Disconnection Events in Comets

Cometary and solar wind data are compared with the purposeof identifying the solar wind conditions which are associated with comet plasma tail disconnection events (DEs),i.e., when the plasma tail appears disconnected from the cometaryhead. The cometary data are fromThe International Halley Watch Atlas ofLarge-Scale Phenomena (Brandt et al.,1992a). A systematic visual analysis of the atlas images(Voelzke and Matsuura, 1998)revealed, among other morphological structures, 47 DEs alongthe plasma tail of comet P/Halley. This work compares the current competitive theories, based on the triggeringmechanisms, in order to explain the cyclic phenomena of DEs, i.e., the ion production effects, the pressure effects and themagnetic reconnection effects are analysed. The distribution of the DEs in time or heliocentricdistance presents abimodal character possibly associated with the cometary passage through the magnetic sector boundaries in the interplanetary medium.The 47 DEs documented in 47 different images allowed the estimation of 19 onsets of DEs, i.e., the time when the cometsupposedly crossed a frontier between magnetic sectors of the solar wind. The solar wind data are taken from in situ measurements of IMP-8 (King, 1982), which is used to construct the actual variation of solarwind speed, density and dynamic pressureduring the analysed interval. These in situ measurements arereferenced to the comet by standard co-rotationmethods. The preliminary results ofthis research reveal that the DEs onsetsof comet P/Halley are correlated with pressureeffects only in 23% of the analysed cases,therefore these effects should not be the principaltriggering mechanism of DEs.     

All comets are born equal: infrared emission by dust as a key to comet nucleus composition

The infrared emission of various comets can be matched within the framework that all comets are made of aggregated interstellar dust. This is demonstrated by comparing results on Halley (a periodic comet), Borrelly (a Jupiter family short period comet), Hale-Bopp (a long period comet), and extra-solar comets in the β Pictoris disk. Attempts have been made to generalize the chemical composition of comet nuclei based on the observation of cometary dust and volatiles and the interstellar dust model. Finally, we deduce some of the expected dust and surface properties of comet Wirtanen from the interstellar dust model as applied to other comets.     

Plasma environment of Jupiter family comets

As any comet nears the Sun, gas sublimes from the nucleus taking dust with it. Jupiter family comets are no exception. The neutral gas becomes ionized, and the interaction of a comet with the solar wind starts with ion pickup. This key process is also important in other solar system contexts wherever neutral particles become ionized and injected into a flowing plasma such as at Mars, Venus, Io, Titan and interstellar neutrals in the solar wind. At comets, ion pickup removes momentum and energy from the solar wind and puts it into cometary particles, which are then thermalised via plasma waves. Here we review what comets have shown us about how this process operates, and briefly look at how this can be applied in other contexts. We review the processes of pitch angle and energy scattering of the pickup ions, and the boundaries and regions in the comet-solar wind interaction. We use in-situ measurements from the four comets visited to date by spacecraft carrying plasma instrumentation: 21P/Giacobini-Zinner, 1P/Halley, 26P/Grigg-Skjellerup and 19P/Borrelly, to illustrate the process in action. While, of these, comet Halley is not a Jupiter class comet, it has told us the most about cometary plasma environments. The other comets, which are from the Jupiter family, give an interesting comparison as they have lower gas production rates and less-developed interactions. We examine the prospects for Rosetta at comet Churyumov-Gerasimenko, another Jupiter family comet where a wide range of gas production rates will be studied.     

Nucleus and tail studies of comet P/Swift-tuttle

CCD images of comet P/Swift-Tuttle, obtained in April 1994 with the 2.2m telescope at ESO La Silla/Chile, showed a comaless stellar nucleus. From absolute photometry we estimated the equivalent radius of the cometary nucleus to be about 11 km (assuming an albedo of 0.04 as for P/Halley) for two rotation phase angles which differ by about 75 deg. From that we conclude that the nucleus is either of rather spherical shape or that the viewing geometry was almost pole-on during our observations.An analysis of the plasma tail and inner coma of the comet by means of photographic plates and CCD images through IHW and BVR filters, obtained with the 80cm Schmidt camera and the 1.2m telescope at Calar Alto/Spain in November 1992, revealed several tail rays, head streamers and substructures in brightness excess areas in the coma. While some of the tail rays extended to several million km nuclear distance, most of them can be traced to starting points which lie in a region just 20000–35000 km projected distance tailward from the nucleus.     

Dust outflow velocity and the gas-to-dust ratio in comets

The observational determination of coma outflow velocity for gaseous species is fairly straightforward using high-resolution spectroscopy. The determination of the outflow speed of the dust is much more difficult. Most sources cite Bobrovnikoff (1954). This brief report is not a strictly refereed publication, however, and mixes data from different comets.We present here a simple analysis of some data from the International Halley Watch (IHW) archive. Differences between continuum images from successive nights show dust jets and shells clearly. Their motion is apparent to first order from the edges of the features. The component of the dust outflow velocity perpendicular to the observer's line of sight may thus be determined. This is of course a lower limit on the dust outflow velocity. Many measurements, at different heliocentric distances (R), allow determination of the heliocentric dependence of the dust outflow velocity.We find that the dust outflow velocity in comet P/Halley varied as R ^–0.41 . If data from an outburst at 14 AU (Sekanina et al. 1992) is included in the fit, this dependence becomes R ^–0.55. This confirms the canonical (e.g. Delsemme 1982) inverse-square-root law, and supports the conclusion of Storrs et al. (1992) on the variability of cometary gas-to-dust ratios.Space Telescope Science Institute