IAA authors:
Ortiz, J.L.;Rodríguez, E.
Abstract:
We present a further investigation of the periodogram resulting from the photometric data by Rodriguez et al. (1997) for comet C/1995 O1 Hale-Bopp and interpret that the main period in the data is 11.23 ± 0.01 h, but not 7.19 days. The latter is now attributed to an alias of the 11.23-h period. Assuming that the periodicity observed in the photometry is the solar day, the 11.23-h period is consistent with estimates of the sidereal rotation period by Farnham et al. (1998), and Jorda et al. (1997-1999) provided that the obliquity of the comet's equatorial plane to its orbital plane is larger than 75°and 80°, respectively. This result is in agreement with estimates of the obliquity by Sekanina (1998) and Jorda et al. (1997-1999). A weaker periodic signal in the light curve could be 5.48 ± 0.01 h, but we suggest that this is an alias of a 3.25 ± 0.01 h period of unknown origin.
URL:
https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/#abs/1997EM&P...77..207O/abstract
Keywords:
Comets; Hale-Bopp; Photometry; Rotation period