The Perihelion Passage of Comet C/2002 V1 (NEAT)
Abstract
During mid-February the Comet C/2002 V1 (NEAT) passed through the field-of-view of the LASCO C3 coronagraph on SOHO and yielded numerous spectacular images. The comet passed within 0.1 AU (about 20 solar radii) and displayed complex dust and ion tails. In addition, two CMEs occurred and appeared to be directed toward the comet. One edge of the second CME may have crossed the comet's tail at about the time the comet was predicted to cross the heliospheric current sheet. Interactions with one or both or these may have been responsible for the splitting of the ion tail. In this presentation we will discuss the observations and present a preliminary comparison of solar wind speeds derived from the ion tail measurements with theoretical values.
- Publication:
-
AAS/Solar Physics Division Meeting #34
- Pub Date:
- May 2003
- Bibcode:
- 2003SPD....34.0613L