Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams
IAUC 4154: 1982i
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Circular No. 4154
Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams
INTERNATIONAL ASTRONOMICAL UNION
Postal Address: Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams
Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, Cambridge, MA 02138, U.S.A.
TWX 710-320-6842 ASTROGRAM CAM Telephone 617-495-7244/7440/7444
PERIODIC COMET HALLEY (1982i)
M. J. Mumma, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center; H. A. Weaver,
Johns Hopkins University; and H. P. Larson, D. S. Davis, and M.
Williams, University of Arizona, communicate: "We report the
definite detection of gaseous water in the coma of P/Halley on Dec.
22.10 UT, using the University of Arizona Fourier-Transform
Spectrometer on the NASA Kuiper Airborne Observatory. The beam-size
was 45" and spectral resolution 0.00003 microns (~ 3 km/s). The
following 4 lines in the nu-3 band were detected (S/N > 10) near the
expected Doppler-shifted frequencies (Delta-dot = +34.5 km/s), and S/N > 20
on the strongest line: transition 2(02)-1(01), rest wavelength 2.63060
microns, ortho-species; 1(01)-0(00), 2.64586 microns, para-species;
1(10)-1(11), 2.65968 microns, para-species; 1(11)-1(10), 2.66714 microns,
ortho-species. Ortho- and para-species have been separately identified in
the comet. The small number of lines and their relative intensities are
consistent with predictions of recent non-LTE models (e.g., Weaver
and Mumma 1984, Ap.J. 276, 782; J. Crovisier and D. Bockelee-Morvan
1985, private communication)."
K. Takagishi, Miyazaki University; and M. Eiraku, K. Tomita,
and M. Matsuoka, Institute of Space and Astronautical Science,
report: "We have observed the central condensation of P/Halley on
Dec. 15-28 with the CCD camera (no filter) mounted at the primary
focus of the 0.60-m reflector at the Kagoshima Space Center. The
central condensation on Dec. 15.5, 16.5, 17.5, 19.5, 21.4, 22.4,
23.4, 24.4, 25.4, 26.4, 27.4, and 28.4 UT was star-like and nearly
circular, while that on Dec. 20.4 was elongated by ~ 0.2 toward
p.a. 180. A similar event was observed on Dec. 12.4 at Okayama
Astrophysical Observatory. We urge observers to monitor the
central condensation to search for this jet-like feature."
C. Kaminski and D. Griep, NASA Infrared Telescope Facility,
report their Dec. 13 UT observations of P/Halley, including the
following infrared magnitudes (obtained with a 7"3 aperture; errors
< 0.05 mag): J = 9.7, H = 9.2, K = 9.0, L = 8.0, N = 0.2, Q =
-1.7. Narrow-band photometry showed a silicate emission feature
that was ~ 0.2 mag above the thermal continuum. The image of the
nuclear condensation was elongated ~ 2" in the north-south direction
on the acquisition television monitor. An outburst may have
been observed on Dec. 12.25, since the infrared brightness was then
as much as 0.6 mag lower.
1985 December 30 (4154) Daniel W. E. Green
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