Ultraviolet albedo of Comet West /1976 VI/
Abstract
The nature of the dust scattered radiation shown in the ultraviolet spectrum of Comet West is analyzed. The continuum of solar radiation scattered by cometary dust is detected to wavelengths as short as 2100 A and is found to follow closely the solar spectrum. The flux from the entire visible coma is included in the spectrometer slit. A comparison of the ultraviolet with the visible solar flux gives the ratio of the albedo at 2700 A to that of 5500 A as about 0.3. Even with all the uncertainties included (the absolute calibration uncertainty is plus or minus 15%), the evidence for strong reddening between the visible and the ultraviolet is clear. A further decrease in albedo is found near 2200 A. The value of the visible albedo of 0.2 is used to derive a value of 0.6 for the cometary albedo at 2700 A. This value is similar to that found for the moon and lunar dust in this spectral region.
- Publication:
-
Solid Particles in the Solar System
- Pub Date:
- 1980
- Bibcode:
- 1980IAUS...90..263F
- Keywords:
-
- Albedo;
- Spectrum Analysis;
- Ultraviolet Spectra;
- West Comet;
- Comet Nuclei;
- Cosmic Dust;
- Light (Visible Radiation);
- Solar Radiation;
- Solar Spectra;
- Astrophysics