OSCILATIONS IN THE TAILS OF COMETS MAY REVEAL THE ROTATIONAL PERIOD OF THE NUCLEUS
ATel #15357; Ferrin, I., University of Antioquia, Medellin, Colombia; Antolin, L., International University of Valencia, Spain
on 30 Apr 2022; 19:49 UT
Credential Certification: Ignacio Ferrin (ignacio.ferrin@udea.edu.co)
Subjects: Optical, Comet, Solar System Object
We have compiled observations of several comets that
exhibit oscillation in their tails, and we have been able to
extract the period of oscillation using the Periodogram Tool
of the exoplanet archive of NASA. We interpret those oscillations
as due to the rotation of the nucleus. We find that comet
Burnham 1960 B12 (Malaise, 1963), has an oscillation with
P = 3.85+-0.1 days, while comet Kohoutek 1963 E1 (Dossin &
Klutz, 1975), has P = 3.6+-0.1 days, while their respective
angle of oscillation has amplitudes A(Burnham) = +-9.1+-0.9 degrees and
A(Kohoutek)=+-10.3+-0.9 degrees, respectively.
Additionally using the methodology of the Secular
Light Curves (Ferrin, 2010), we have determined rotational
periods for comets C/1942 X1 (Whipple-Fedtke-Tevzadze)
P = 12.88+-0.03 days, Amplitude = 0.42+-0.04 magnitudes;
C/1953 T1 (Abell) Period = 5.42+-0.03 days, Amplitude =
0.42+-0.05 magnitudes; C/1955 N1 (Bacharew-MacFarlane-Krienke),
Period = 20.19+-0.03 days, and Amplitude = 0.65+-0.03 magnitudes.
Additional details are being prepared for publication.
References
- Dossin, F., & Klutz, M. (1975). Orientation et aspect de la
queue de la comete Kohoutek (1973f). Bulletin de la Societe
Royale des Sciences de Liege, 44(5-6), 401-411.
- Ferrin, I. (2010). Atlas of secular light curves of comets.
Planetary and Space Science, 58(3), 365-391.
- Malaise, D. (1963). Photographic observations of the
tail activity of Comet Burnham 1960 11. The Astronomical
Journal, 68, 561.
