Space observations of comet Halley

Abstract

Observations of comet Halley by the Solar Maximum Mission, the International Ultraviolet Explorer, the Pioneer Venus Orbiter, the Dynamics Explorer 1, and by sounding rockets are reviewed. Visual images taken through the wide-band blue filter showed an extended coma elongated approximately in the antisolar direction. Preperihelion observations show definite evidence for both a plasma and a dust tail. The ultraviolet observations indicate that an extensive hydrogen cloud extends to well over 10 billion km from the nucleus. The derived water production rate for the comet showed very large changes around the time of perihelion. The rocket observations showed strong H I, O I, and C I emissions, several CO fourth positive bands, and the C II emissions at 1335 A extending into the tail.