On the 'Edge-On' Configuration of the Nuclei of Comet West (1975n)
Abstract
Observations made when earth crossed the orbital plane of comet West in 1976, providing an 'edge-on' view of the multiple nucleus, are used to calculate improved orbital elements for nucleus A at the time of crossing, for nucleus B relative to A and to D, and for nucleus D relative to A. The results appear to confirm that the motions of the fragments normal to the orbital plane were rather insignificant. Difficulties created by this finding for the solar-attraction theory on the rate of separation of split-comet fragments are discussed. The motion of a comet fragment off the orbital plane of the principal nucleus is analyzed in terms of both the initial-impulse and the nongravitational-acceleration hypotheses. Prospects for observing the nuclei of this comet at the next favorable edge-on projection (July 21, 1977) are evaluated.
- Publication:
-
Astrophysical Letters
- Pub Date:
- 1977
- Bibcode:
- 1977ApL....18...55S
- Keywords:
-
- Comet Nuclei;
- Orbit Calculation;
- Orbital Elements;
- Particle Motion;
- Curve Fitting;
- Fragments;
- Gravitational Effects;
- Least Squares Method;
- Solar Gravitation;
- Astrophysics