Bulg. J. Phys. vol.34 no.s2 (2007), pp. 139-147
Structures in the Coma of Comet C/NEAT (2001 Q4): Observations and Models
G. Borisov, T. Bonev
Institute of Astronomy, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, BG-1784 Sofia, Bulgaria
go backInstitute of Astronomy, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, BG-1784 Sofia, Bulgaria
Abstract. Comet C/NEAT (2001 Q4) was observed in three consecutive nights in May 2004 (19th, 20th and 21th) with the 2m Ritchey-Chretien-Coude telescope and the 2-Channel Focal Reducer at the Bulgarian National Astronomical Observatory (BNAO) - Rozhen. Narrow-band filters were used, centered on a blue and a red comets' continuum windows. The images exhibit shell-like structures. A dynamical Monte-Carlo model was developed and used to describe these structures. Comparison of modelled and observed shells suggests that the source region of the observed structures should be 10 times more active than the surrounding nucleus surface. The calibrated images were used to produce color maps of the dust. The color of the structure does not deviate strongly from the color of the ambient dust coma.

