ESA Science & Technology - VRI imaging of comet 46P/Wirtanen

Publication date: 06 December 1998

Authors: Epifani, E., et al.

Journal: Planetary and Space Sciences
Volume: 47
Issue: 6-7
Page: pp.765-772
Year: 1999

Copyright: Elsevier Sciences

Imaging of comet 46P/Wirtanen was performed in the standard VRI filters on 10 and 11 November 1996 with the 1.0 m telescope of the South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO). After proper processing and calibration, the images have been used to derive information about the isophote distribution, magnitude and colour indices. We observed a coma extending to at most ~5×10³ km. We derive absolute magnitudes of the coma for the different filters and the colours V-R = 0.18±0.17 and R-I = 0.39±0.16.