Dust Release Rates and Dust-to-Gas Mass Ratios of Eight Comets
Abstract
Mass release rates of dust and mass ratios of dust-to-gas release rates of Comets Thiele (1985m), Wilson (1986l), P/Borrelly (1987p), Liller (1988a), Bradfield (1987s), Hartley-Good (1985l), P/Giacobini-Zinner (1984e), and P/Halley (1982i) are estimated from the analysis of continuum flux measurements at optical wavelengths. An attempt is made to estimate the size of each comet nucleus on the basis of water-ice sublimation (vaporization), assuming that the nucleus is spherical and only a fraction of its surface area is active. Where possible, the dust mass release rates are compared with those obtained by other investigators in the optical and IR wavelength regions. Good agreement with results based on IR observations is found.
- Publication:
-
The Astronomical Journal
- Pub Date:
- August 1992
- DOI:
- 10.1086/116279
- Bibcode:
- 1992AJ....104..848S
- Keywords:
-
- Comet Nuclei;
- Comet Tails;
- Cosmic Dust;
- Computational Astrophysics;
- Halley'S Comet;
- Orbital Elements;
- Visible Spectrum;
- Astrophysics;
- COMETS: INDIVIDUAL: THIELE (1985M);
- WILSON (19861);
- COMETS: INDIVIDUAL: P/BORRELLY (1987P);
- LILLER (1988A);
- COMETS: INDIVIDUAL: BRADFIELD: (1987S);
- HARTLEY-GOOD (19851);
- COMETS: INDIVIDUAL: P/GIACOBINI-ZINNER (1984E);
- P/HALLEY (1982I)