Issue |
A&A
Volume 374, Number 2, August I 2001
|
|
---|---|---|
Page(s) | 712 - 718 | |
Section | Celestial mechanics and astrometry | |
DOI | https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361:20010715 | |
Published online | 15 August 2001 |
Photometric observations of distant active comets*
1
Department of Experimental Physics & Astronomical Observatory, University of Szeged, 6720 Szeged, Dóm tér 9, Hungary
2
Department of Optics & Quantum Electronics & Astronomical Observatory, University of Szeged, POB 406, 6701 Szeged, Hungary
3
Department of Physical Geography, ELTE University, 1088 Budapest, Ludovika tér 2, Hungary
Corresponding author: L. L. Kiss, l.kiss@physx.u-szeged.hu
Received:
21
September
2000
Accepted:
17
April
2001
We present CCD VRC observations of 6 distant comets located at
heliocentric distances of 3.4-7.2 AU. Time-series data were
obtained on three nights in July, 2000 covering 16 hours.
Each comet was observed after the perihelion,
when a lower activity was expected. Contrary to expectation,
we found well-defined circular comae
and extended tails visible out to a few (3-5) arcmin.
We detected a quasi-cyclic light variation of C/1999 J2, while
C/1999 N4 showed some hints of a more complex variation.
C/2000 K1 was constant to mag during the observing run.
The standard V and RC data were used to estimate
nuclear diameters, while the colour indices implied a slighly reddish
(
, C/2000 K1), a neutral (
, C/1999 N4)
and a slightly bluish (
, C/1999 J2) coma.
Simple fits of the surface brightness distributions are also
presented enabling order of magnitude estimates of nuclear radii.
Beside the time-series observations, further single-shot
observations of three faint comets are briefly described.
Key words: solar system / comets: individual: C/1999 J2, C/1999 N4, C/2000 K1
© ESO, 2001
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