The Visual Light Curve Of C/1995 O1 (Hale-Bopp) From Discovery To Late 1997 |
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| Authors: | Kidger M R Hurst G James N |
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| Institution: | (1) Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias, c/Via Láctea, s/n E-38200, La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain;(2) Astronomical Association – CometSection, The Astronomer, 16 Westminster Close, Basingstoke, Hampshire, RG22 4PP, UK & British |
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| Abstract: | We present a light curve of C/1995 O1 (Hale-Bopp) compiledfrom more than 3000 visual observations of the comet made by members
of the The Astronomer Group world-wide. These observations cover the period from discovery through to the end of 1997. The
light curve shows that the rate of brightening of the comet varied widely at different times, with rapid rates of brightening
at high heliocentric distance pre-perhelion and a comparably rapid post-perihelion fade. There is no evidence that the comet
was suffering a large photometric outburst when first discovered, although a small outburst can be identified at perihelion.
At least five difficult brightening regimes can be identified in the light curve between discovery and perihelion. From 2.5
AU to perihelion the rate of brightening with decreasing heliocentric distance was typical for “fairly” new comets(n ∼ 3.5,
where “n” is the power law exponent of the heliocentric distance), although this was preceded by a period of very slow brightening
with n ∼ 1 from r ∼ 4.0 AU to r ∼ 2.8 AU and followed by an initially more rapid brightening which appears to be related to
the on-set of rapid water sublimation activity. We derive the light curve parameters at different stages of the comet's apparition.
This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date. |
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| Keywords: | Comets named objects C/1997 O1 (Hale-Bopp) photometry |
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