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Thermal modeling of Halley's comet

January 1, 1984

The comet thermal model of Weissman and Kieffer is used to calculate gas production rates and other parameters for the 1986 perihelion passage of Halley's Comet. Gas production estimates are very close to revised pre-perihelion estimates by Newburn based on 1910 observations of Halley; the increase in observed gas production post-perihelion may be explained by a variety of factors. The energy contribution from multiply scattered sunlight and thermal emission by coma dust increases the total energy reaching the Halley nucleus at perihelion by a factor of 2.4. The high obliquity of the Halley nucleus found by Sekanina and Larson may help to explain the asymmetry in Halley's gas production rates around perihelion. ?? 1984.

Publication Year 1984
Title Thermal modeling of Halley's comet
DOI 10.1016/0273-1177(84)90032-2
Authors P.R. Weissman, H. H. Kieffer
Publication Type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Series Title Advances in Space Research
Index ID 70013556
Record Source USGS Publications Warehouse