Cometary Rotation: an Overview
نویسنده
چکیده
I discuss our current understanding of the spin states of cometary nuclei. Cometary spin influences the temporal and spatial patterns of outgassing from the nucleus (through diurnal and seasonal effects) and is in turn influenced by outgassing-driven torques. The current challenge to cometary astronomers is to quantify the interactions between the spin, the outgassing, and the resultant torques on the nucleus, and to understand the role of rotation in determining the basic physical properties of the nucleus.
منابع مشابه
Rotation of Cometary Nuclei
The current understanding of cometary rotation is reviewed from both theoretical and observational perspectives. Rigid-body dynamics for principal axis and non-principal-axis rotators are described in terms of an observer’s point of view. Mechanisms for spin-state changes, corresponding timescales, and spin evolution due to outgassing torques are discussed. Different observational techniques an...
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