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Max Planck researchers and close
collaborators enter into various observational programs of the Comet 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann
3 (SW 3). During May and June 2006 this comet is of great scientific interest:
it is splitting into several distinct pieces, its main fragment comes nearest to
the Earth (11.6 Mill. km) around May 12, and this distance is the closest a
comet ever approached Earth in more than twenty years.
Project Abstract
What causes the splitting of the comet? Will the
splitting process continue? Will the comet finally disintegrate? Max Planck researchers and close collaborators have
been recently and will continue observing the Comet
73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 3 and its main
fragments in great detail during 2006 from
different sites (please
see projects)
Here we created a
web site dedicated
to our observing programs, and preliminary results.
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News
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Component B has reportedly become brighter than component C!
10 May
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Fragment B shows changes in the coma morphology!
Confirmation from CSIC-MPG observations
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3 May
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The fragments B, C and G
were exposed during April 2006 from Tautenburg and CSIC-MPG observatories for a total of a few minutes (each exposure), a few days
before fragment B and G started to split off. 1st May |
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The trailing fragment of
component B has been designated "AQ" by the IAU. 26th April |
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Science Goals
These
observations will obtain valuable information, specially as to study
sublimation of volatiles from dust grains, grain dissolution/fragmentation
with distance from nucleus, to determine gas and dust production of SW3
fragments, to search for small fragments around larger ones, to study dust
properties (colours, phase angle), to determine rotational period and
break-up limit of fragment C (the brightest one), between other studies. The
recent nucleus splitting of SW 3 fragments (for instance B and C) is an
unexpected event, but is a very valuable add-on of the planned science
program since it will allow us to study the rare event of comet break-up in
great detail.
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