EDP Sciences Journals List
Advanced Search
Subscriber Authentication Point
Home All issues Volume 414/ 2 Article

Free access article

Issue A&A
Volume 414, Number 2, February I 2004
Page(s) 749 - 755
Section The Sun
DOI http://dx.doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361:20031610



A&A 414, 749-755 (2004)
DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361:20031610

Optical observations of Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko

M. Weiler1, H. Rauer1 and J. Helbert2

1  Institute of Planetary Research, DLR, Rutherfordstrasse 2, 12489 Berlin, Germany
2  Optical Information Systems and Space Sensor Technologies, DLR, Rutherfordstrasse 2, 12489 Berlin, Germany

(Received 5 August 2003 / Accepted 13 October 2003)

Abstract
From longslit spectra obtained during the 1996 perihelion passage of Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko, a CN production rate of $\rm (1.35 \pm 0.35) \times 10^{25}$ molecules $\rm s^{-1}$ was determined and an upper limit for the $\rm C_3$ production rate of  $1 \times 10^{25}$ molecules $\rm s^{-1}$ was derived. The dust color and dust activity were determined from the continuum light in the spectra. A neutral dust color was determined between 4070 Å and 4600 Å. The CN production rate and the Af $\rho$ parameter, determined to  $\rm (428.2 \pm 59.8)$ cm, were similar to the values of the 1982 perihelion passage, indicating that the comet's activity did not change significantly in recent orbital passages. A first crude estimate of the dust production rate indicates a high dust to gas mass ratio.

R-filter images taken in March 2003 were used to study the dust coma morphology. Two jet structures were seen in the coma; these structures show no variations within the observing period from March 7 to May 30, 2003. The orientation of these stationary structures suggests an inclination of the rotation axis of the nucleus of approximately  $\rm 40^\circ$ with respect to the orbital plane.


Key words: comets: general -- comets: individual: 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko

Offprint request: M. Weiler, michael.weiler@dlr.de




© ESO 2004

What is OpenURL?

The OpenURL standard is a protocol for transmission of metadata describing the resource that you wish to access. An OpenURL link contains article metadata and directs it to the OpenURL server of your choice. The OpenURL server can provide access to the resource and also offer complementary services (specific search engine, export of references...). The OpenURL link can be generated by different means.
  • If your librarian has set up your subscription with an OpenURL resolver, OpenURL links appear automatically on the abstract pages.
  • You can define your own OpenURL resolver with your EDPS Account. In this case your choice will be given priority over that of your library.
  • You can use an add-on for your browser (Firefox or I.E.) to display OpenURL links on a page (see http://www.openly.com/openurlref/). You should disable this module if you wish to use the OpenURL server that you or your library have defined.