Spin Axis Attitude Determination Accuracy Model in Presence of Biases

2006 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 799-809 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jozef C. van der Ha
Keyword(s):  
Attitude Determination ◽  
Spin Axis

Models of comets with strongly variable nongravitational effects

1999 ◽  
Vol 173 ◽  
pp. 381-387
Author(s):  
M. Królikowska ◽  
G. Sitarski ◽  
S. Szutowicz
Keyword(s):  
Cometary Nucleus ◽  
Spin Axis ◽  
Reactive Force ◽  
Orbital Elements ◽  
Cometary Nuclei ◽  
Short Period ◽  
Basic Parameters ◽  
Polar Radius ◽  
Cometary Activity ◽  
Nongravitational Effects

AbstractThe nongravitational motion of five “erratic” short-period comets is studied on the basis of published astrometric observations. We present the precession models which successfully link all the observed apparitions of the comets: 21P/Giacobini-Zinner, 31P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 2, 32P/Comas Solá, 37P/Forbes, and 43P/Wolf-Harrington. We used the Sekanina's forced precession model of the rotating cometary nucleus to include the nongravitational terms into equations of the comet's motion. Values of six basic parameters (four connected with the rotating comet nucleus and two describing the precession of spin-axis of the nucleus) have been determined along the orbital elements from positional observations of the comets. The solutions were derived with additional assumptions which introduce instantaneous changes of modulus of reactive force,Aand of maximum of cometary activity with respect to perihelion time. The present precession models impose some contraints on sizes and rotational periods of cometary nuclei. According to our solutions the nucleus of 21P/Giacobini-Zinner with oblateness along the spin-axis of about 0.32 (equatorial to polar radius of 1.46) is the most oblate among five investigated comets.

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