Narrowband Observations of Comet 46P/Wirtanen During its Exceptional Apparition of 2018/19: Gas Jet Morphology and Rotation Period
Abstract
An extensive observing campaign was successfully conducted for Comet 46P/Wirtanen during its excellent recent apparition of 2018/19 using several telescopes at Lowell Observatory. Narrowband imaging was obtained over a three-month interval, revealing two CN gas jets throughout the apparition. Their motion and repetition allowed us to determine a rotation period near 9 hr in early November. We continued to obtain sufficient data to constrain the rotation period through early February and detect little to no change. We see no rotational variation in dust images. C3 exhibits a similar morphology to CN, while OH shows a different spatial distribution. Analyses are ongoing and new results will be presented.
- Publication:
-
EPSC-DPS Joint Meeting 2019
- Pub Date:
- September 2019
- Bibcode:
- 2019EPSC...13.1035K