Brightness asymmetry in comet Kopff

Abstract

Observations of comet Kopff, obtained at 350-650 nm with resolution 1.15 nm using an IDS spectrograph on the 2.7-m telescope at McDonald Observatory during the 1983 apparition, are reported, summarizing the results of Cochran (1985). The data are presented in tables and graphs and analyzed using two models: the one-dimensional nonequilibrium-chemistry code developed by Cochran (1982 and 1985) for comet Stephan-Oterma, or the simpler model of Haser (1957). A brightness asymmetry in comet Kopff is attributed to preperihelion gas excess and postperihelion gas depletion.