Modeling the Dynamics of Cometary Fragments: Application to Comet C/1996 B2 Hyakutake

E. Desvoivres (1) , J. Klinger (1) , Anny Chantal Levasseur-Regourd (2) , G.H. Jones (3, 4)

1 LPG - Laboratoire de Planétologie de Grenoble
2 SA - Service d'aéronomie
3 MSSL - Mullard Space Science Laboratory
4 Blackett Laboratory

A tridimensional model for the dynamics of cometary fragments is presented, using a direct integration of the vectorial sum of forces. This model is validated with a complete set of images of Comet C/1996 B2 Hyakutake, between March 22 and April 6, 1996, UT, by making the assumption that the bright condensations visible in the near-nucleus coma were minicomae surrounding nucleus fragments. It is concluded that the observations can be explained with the emission of a major fragment on March 21.4, 1996, UT, accompanied by six minor fragments. The emission of that major fragment followed an increase in the comet's activity by a few days. The main consequences for cometary space missions are discussed.

Domains: Sciences of the Universe [physics]

E. Desvoivres, J. Klinger, Anny Chantal Levasseur-Regourd, G.H. Jones. Modeling the Dynamics of Cometary Fragments: Application to Comet C/1996 B2 Hyakutake. Icarus, 2000, 144 (1), pp.172-181. ⟨10.1006/icar.1999.6272⟩. ⟨insu-03581522⟩