Observations of the long-lasting activity of the distant Comets 29P Schwassmann 13;Wachmann 1, C/2003 WT42 (LINEAR) and C/2002 VQ94 (LINEAR)

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• 作者：Oleksandra V. Ivanova^a ; ^{sandra@mao.kiev.ua} ; Yury V. Skorov^b ; ^c ; Pavlo P. Korsun^a ; Viktor L. Afanasiev^d ; Jü ; rgen Blum^b
• 关键词：Comets ; Photometry
• 刊名：Icarus
• 出版年：2011
• 出版时间：January 2011
• 年：2011
• 卷：211
• 期：1
• 页码：559-567
• 全文大小：507 K

文摘

We investigated three comets, which are active at large heliocentric distances, using observations obtained at the 6-m BTA telescope (SAO RAS, Russia) in the photometric mode of the focal reducer SCORPIO. The three comets, 29P/Schwassmann 13;Wachmann 1, C/2003 WT42 (LINEAR), and C/2002 VQ94 (LINEAR), were observed after their perihelion passages at heliocentric distances between 5.5 and 7.08 AU. The dust production rates in terms of Af<1; was measured for these comets. Using the retrieved values, an average dust production rate was derived under different model assumptions. A tentative calculation of the total mass loss of the comet nucleus within a certain observation period was executed. We calculated the corresponding thickness of the depleted uppermost layer where high-volatile ices completely sublimated. The results obtained in our study strongly support the idea that the observed activity of Comet SW1 requires a permanent demolition of the upper surface layers.