Tail Peculiarities in Comet Beunett Caused by Solar Wind Disturbances
Abstract
Summary. Peculiarities observed in the plasma tail of Comet Bennett between March 30 and April 7, 1970, were shown to be related to solar wind events. In particular two series of exposures taken from stations at different geographic longitudes are discussed which show the development of a secondary taiL One of these events is clearly connected with an interplanetary shock wave. We propose that the ions forming the secondary tail originated in a region in front of the comet and were compressed during the shock event to a concentration dense enough to be observed. Further there seems to be a correlation between kinks in the tail axis and changes of the solar wind direction. Key words: comet-solar wind interaction - plasma tails
- Publication:
-
Astronomy and Astrophysics
- Pub Date:
- July 1973
- Bibcode:
- 1973A&A....26..113J