Comet Sugano-Saigusa-Fujikawa (1983V)--a small, puzzling comet

Astron J. 1987 Oct;94(4):1081-7. doi: 10.1086/114544.

Abstract

Spectroscopic and infrared observations of Comet Sugano-Saigusa-Fujikawa (1983V) were obtained during its close approach to the Earth on 11-14 June 1983. The [O I] production rates of 1.8 +/- 0.9 x 10(26) atoms/s observed on 12.3 June and 7 +/- 3.5 x 10(26) atoms/s on 13.4 June lead to derived water-production rates of 3 x 10(27) mol/s on 12 June and 1.1 x 10(28) mol/s on 13 June. The abundances of the minor species NH2, CN, C2, and C3 are unusually low relative to [O I]. The upper limit to the average nuclear radius from our infrared and visual photometry on 12-13 June (assuming that the entire signal came from the nucleus) is approximately 370 m. The dust/gas mass ratio was <0.01 on June 12 and <0.005 on June 13.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Astronomical Phenomena
  • Astronomy
  • Carbon
  • Cosmic Dust / analysis*
  • Meteoroids*
  • Models, Theoretical
  • Nitrogen Compounds
  • Oxygen
  • Spectrophotometry, Infrared*
  • Water

Substances

  • Cosmic Dust
  • Nitrogen Compounds
  • Water
  • Carbon
  • Oxygen