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。     

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。     

海尔—波普彗星1996年春观测

1996年2月底至3月初，海尔-波普彗星在清晨前重新出现，地平高度较低．本文使用云南天文台1米望远镜加新研制的1024×1024CCD照像机，对该彗星进行了照像观测，精密测定了其位置及光度．结果表明，即使与最新的预报比较起来，仍旧存在着明显的系统偏差．因此，海尔一波普彗星的轨道根数仍需修正．其亮度也比最新的预报稍亮．     

怎么观测彗星

每年都会出现一定数量的彗星,但大多数比较暗淡,只有少部分能够达到肉眼可见的亮度。每颗彗星的形态都是独一无二的,彗尾形状和彗星亮度的变化还具有不确定性,这些都吸引着爰好者的视线。如何观测彗星?这里分享笔者的一点经验。     

2009年亮彗星观测指南

2008年是北半球彗星观测相对平淡的一年,除了三颗（8P／塔特尔彗星、C／2007W1博阿蒂尼彗星和C／2008A1麦克诺特彗星）勉强达到肉眼可见的彗星以外并没有太多亮点。倒是年初新疆星明天文台利用CCD巡天发现的陈-高彗星（C／2008C1）给国人带来了意外的·凉喜,这也是继2002年河南张大庆先生发现池谷-张彗星后国内爱好者独立发现的第二颗彗星。     

苏梅克—利维9号彗星撞击木星事件的光学观测

本文给出了１９９４年７月１７日至２２日，彗星碰撞期间，福州和乌鲁木齐两个观测点所取得的部分光学观测材料。     

彗星的CCD成像观测

近年来，对一系列彗星进行的宽带或带ＣＣＤ测光得到了许多有趣的结果，为深入地理解彗星的物理性质，结构，起源和演化等提供了丰富的信息。文中简要地介绍了利用ＣＣＤ成像观测在测量彗核的自转，大小，开头，质量和研究彗核的活动以及彗发的形成和演化等方面的进展。     

哈雷彗星的羟基射电谱线观测

本文主要论述用25米射电望远镜和自相关频谱仪于1986年4月13—17日(UT)期间在我国陕西眉县首次对哈雷彗星羟基分子1667 MHz射电话线的观测及归算结果。由谱线轮廓的幅度、宽度、形状和面积相继导出的谱线强度为-2.4Jy,膨胀速度为0.92kms~(-1),速度的一级矩为0.20kms~(-1),以及羟基的母分子产生率为1.7×10~(29)mols~(-1)。文中所给出的宇宙羟基源W3和W12的观测结果,分别用来检验设备系统探测射电谱线的功能及对哈雷彗星的羟基谱线进行强度定标。这些结果均同理论预期或以往的有关观测相符合。     

Isophot Observations Of Comet Hale-Bopp

Comet Hale-Bopp has been observed five times with ISOPHOT, the photometer on board the Infrared Space Observatory (ISO), four times before its perihelion passage at heliocentric distances of 4.92, 4.58, 2.93 and 2.81 AU, and at 3.91 AU postperihelion. Each time, multi-filter photometry covering the range between 3.6–175 μm with eight to ten filters was performed to sample the spectral energy distribution of the comet. These measurements were used to determine dust temperatures for the cometary coma. The evolution of the strength of the silicate feature can be followed in the data as well as the flux deficit at longer wavelengths. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Mid-Infrared Spectro-Imaging Observations Of Comet Hale-Bopp

Comet C/1995 O1 (Hale-Bopp) was observed with camiras, the Saclay mid-infrared camera, mounted on the Nordic Optical Telescope (Roque de los Muchachos, La Palma), from April 14th to April 25th, 1997. This observing run was part of the European campaign devoted to Hale-Bopp observations from the Canary Islands (PI R. West). camiras spectro-imaging capabilities, achieved with a Circular Variable Filter (of spectral resolution R ≈ 50), were used to obtain spectra of the comet in the N atmospheric window (8–13 μm) over a large field of view (52″ × 78″), at a spatial resolution of ∼1 arcsec. Data were also collected at shorter wavelengths (in the L and M bands). The silicate dust feature around 10 μm is clearly apparent in the data. The shape of the feature varies continuously according to the position in the field. A dust model developed at Saclay in the framework of β-Pictoris dust disk studies was used to interpret the observations. The presence of both olivine and pyroxene with a high degree of crystallinity is needed to account for the observations. A change in the size distribution of the grains allows to reproduce the spatial change of the silicate feature according to the position in the field. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Near-Infrared Photometric And Polarimetric Observations Of Comet Hale-Bopp

Near-infrared photometric and polarimetric observations of comet Hale-Bopp (1995 O1) using KONIC (Kiso Observatory Near-Infrared Camera) are reported. Observations were carried out on March 18 UT and April 26 UT 1997, when the heliocentric distances of the comet were 0.94 and 1.02 AU, and the phase angles were 48.5 deg and 32.9 deg, respectively. In the J, H, and K′ bands, we obtained linear polarization of the near-nucleus region of 16.4 ± 1.2, 18.8 ± 1.3, and 15.1 ± 0.9 percent on March 18UT and 7.1 ± 1.1, 8.9 ± 1.0, and 6.9 ± 0.6 percent on April 26, respectively. These values were higher than those observed for 1P/Halley. The maximum polarization was found at H band on both dates. Polarization maps showed higher polarization regions toward the anti-solar direction in the J and H bands. No distinct correlation was found between high polarization regions and bright regions. The projected expansion velocity of the arc structure of the dust jet was 375 ± 35.7 m/s on 17–19 March. The periodicity was found to be 11.1 ± 2.8 hours. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

苏梅克－利维9号彗星撞击木星事件的光学观测

本文给出了１９９４年７月１７日至２２日，彗星碰撞期间，福州和乌鲁木齐两个观测点所取得的部分光学观测资料。     

CCD Observations of Comet Hale-Bopp at Shajn Telescope I. Coude spectra

Spectroscopic observations of Comet Hale-Bopp were made at the 2.6 m Shajn Telescope of the Crimean Astrophysical Observatory. Some spectra were obtained with high spectral resolution, FWHM = 0.18–0.4Å, in the coude focus on February 22 and 26, 1997. The observations were made in selected spectral windows (4805–4872 Å,6528–6595 Å, 7186–7253 Å, 8276–8408 Å).The spectrograph slit was centered on the nucleus and had dimensions of 25.2 × 0.6 arcsec² on the plane of the sky. The continuum spatial profiles were extremely asymmetrical toward the Sun. However, the continuum-subtracted spatial profiles of the molecular emissions were symmetrical relative to the nucleus, except for C₂. The shape of the spatial profiles of the C₂ emissions is similar to that one of continuum but is more flattened. So, there are evidences that dust can be an additional source of the C₂ radicals in the cometary coma. The main aim of our research was identification of the cometary emissions. Using recent laboratory spectroscopic data we identified newlines of C₂ associated with the transitions from high rotational levels in the 4805–4872 Å spectral region. We detected cometary H_α emission as well. Emissions of NH₂, H₂O⁺,and C₂ (Phillips system) were found in the red spectral windows. Some emission features are still unassigned.     

Observations of the Dust Cloud in Comet Hale-Bopp on 9–11 May 1997

During our monitoring observations of comet Hale-Bopp, we found several sporadic ejections of dust from the nucleus. The most prominent ejection was observed on May 6–9, 1997, in the post-perihelion phase of the apparition. In this paper, we report preliminary analysis of this event, in which the total mass of the dust cloud is estimated to be 1.6 × 10¹¹ g. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

The rotational structure of the B-X system of sulfur dimers in the spectra of Comet Hyakutake (C/1996 B2)

We have constructed line-by-line fluorescence models for the ro-vibrational bands of the B-X system of sulfur dimers (S₂). For the first time the detailed rotational lines of the bands are clearly resolved in the high-resolution echelle spectra of Comet Hyakutake (C/1996 B2), which were obtained at the Kitt Peak 4-m telescope on 26.4 March 1996 (UT). In order to construct satisfactory band models of the B-X system, we first compared the models to laboratory spectra available in literature, and then compared the models including Swings effects to the high-resolution spectra of Hyakutake. From the model fits, we derived a rotational temperature of 70±10 K, which should represent a temperature of a coma region close to the nucleus, where most of the S₂ emissions originate. We present previously proposed scenarios for the origin of S₂ in cometary comae, and compare them with our spectral analysis.     

Spin Axis Direction of Comet 19p/Borrelly Based on Observations from 2000 and 2001

We calculate the direction of the rotational angular momentum vector,M, of comet 19P/Borrelly based on rotational lightcurve data from 2000, groundbased imaging of the coma during the Deep Space 1encounter, and the basic near-nucleus coma morphology as revealed by the Deep Space 1 spacecraft. For the most likely direction, we derivea family of solutions (with center at RA = 221°, Dec = -7°) if the direction of M is towards the sunward hemisphere during the Deep Space 1 encounter, whereas if the rotation is of opposite sense, the diametrically opposite family of solutions (with center at RA = 41°, Dec = 7°) would result. We argue that the coma morphology in September 2001 is consistent with the nucleus being a principal axis rotator or one observationally indistinguishable from it. Therefore, for all practical purposes, the direction of the rotational angular momentum vector coincides with the spin axis. We also discuss why the determination of the spin axis direction based on observations from the last apparition is in disagreement with the current result.     

Spectroscopic Observations of Comet C/1996 B2 (Hyakutake) with the Caltech Submillimeter Observatory

The apparition of Comet C/1996 B2 (Hyakutake) offered an unexpected and rare opportunity to probe the inner atmosphere of a comet with high spatial resolution and to investigate with unprecedented sensitivity its chemical composition. We present observations of over 30 submillimeter transitions of HCN, H¹³CN, HNC, HNCO, CO, CH₃OH, and H₂CO in Comet Hyakutake carried out between 1996 March 18 and April 9 at the Caltech Submillimeter Observatory. Detections of the H¹³CN (4–3) and HNCO (16_0,16–15_0,15) transitions represent the first observations of these species in a comet. In addition, several other transitions, including HCN (8–7), CO (4–3), and CO (6–5) are detected for the first time in a comet as is the hyperfine structure of the HCN (4–3) line. The observed intensities of the HCN (4–3) hyperfine components indicate a line center optical depth of 0.9 ± 0.2 on March 22.5 UT. The HCN/HNC abundance ratio in Comet Hyakutake at a heliocentric distance of 1 AU is similar to that measured in the Orion extended ridge— a warm, quiescent molecular cloud. The HCN/H¹³CN abundance ratio implied by our observations is 34 ± 12, similar to that measured in giant molecular clouds in the galactic disk but significantly lower than the Solar System¹²C/¹³C ratio. The low HCN/H¹³CN abundance ratio may be in part due to contamination by an SO₂line blended with the H¹³CN (4–3) line. In addition, chemical models suggest that the HCN/H¹³CN ratio can be affected by fractionation during the collapse phase of the protosolar nebula; hence a low HCN/H¹³CN ratio observed in a comet is not inconsistent with the solar system¹²C/¹³C isotopic ratio. The abundance of HNCO relative to water derived from our observations is (7 ± 3) × 10⁻⁴. The HCN/HNCO abundance ratio is similar to that measured in the core of Sagittarius B2 molecular cloud. Although a photo-dissociative channel of HNCO leads to CO, the CO produced by HNCO is a negligible component of cometary atmospheres. Production rates of HCN, CO, H₂CO, and CH₃OH are presented. Inferred molecular abundances relative to water are typical of those measured in comets at 1 AU from the Sun. The exception is CO, for which we derive a large relative abundance of 30%. The evolution of the HCN production rate between March 20 and March 30 suggests that the increased activity of the comet was the cause of the fragmentation of the nucleus. The time evolution of the H₂CO emission suggests production of this species from dust grains.