Spectrophotometry of comet Kohoutek (1973f = 1973 XII).
Abstract
Spectrum scans have been obtained of Comet Kohoutek with a Fourier spectrometer at heliocentric distances from 0.55 to 1.05 AU. The useful spectral range is roughly 3800-8400 A and the resolution is about 10-15 A at 5000 A. Large variations occurred in the gas-to-dust ratio (pre- versus postperihelion) and in the relative strength of the NH2 bands (with heliocentric distance). There is a smaller change in the ratio of CN to C2 emission. The Swan bands of C2 show the customary anomaly in strengths implying highly non-Boltzmann distributions among vibrational levels. The red and violet CN system fluxes are in slightly better agreement with laboratory data on oscillator strengths than results on previous comets. Other species measured include Na, (O I), CH, and C3.
- Publication:
-
The Astronomical Journal
- Pub Date:
- October 1975
- DOI:
- 10.1086/111822
- Bibcode:
- 1975AJ.....80..861A
- Keywords:
-
- Astronomical Spectroscopy;
- Emission Spectra;
- Kohoutek Comet;
- Spectrophotometry;
- Carbon;
- Cyanides;
- Fourier Analysis;
- Molecular Oscillations;
- Molecular Spectroscopy;
- Vibrational Spectra;
- Astronomy