Engineering topics
Publications and source records attributed to Roemer, E..
Visual and photographic observations of the brightness of comets are reviewed including methods and sources of errors. Nuclear magnitude estimates are discussed and interpreted in relation to determination of appropriate exposure times for photographic observations. The importance of brightness ephemarides is emphasized.
The discovery, observations, and attempts to determine the orbit of Jupiter XIII are described. It is found that the orbit is very similar to the orbits of Jupiter VI, VII, and X. An ephemeris is provided for the 1975 opposition.
Current knowledge of comets is surveyed, and comet-rendezvous mission constraints, opportunities, modes, and spacecraft capabilities are discussed. Attention is given to cometary nuclei, infrared measurements of comets, the nature and origin of the cometary head, L-alpha photometry of Comet Bennett, Types I and II tails, comet spectra and orbits, and evidence from stream meteoroids. Some scientific criteria for a cometary mission are considered. Individual items are announced in this issue.
Icarus asteroid positions, UBV magnitude, brightness, colors, light curves and polarization, noting stony-iron composition