Astron. Astrophys. 338, 761-766 (1998)

The cometary outbursts at large heliocentric distances

P. Gronkowski ^* and J. Smela

Institute of Physics, Pedagogical University, Rzeszów, Poland

Received 11 December 1997 / Accepted 11 June 1998

Abstract

A model is presented explaining changes in cometary brightness during an outburst at large heliocentric distances. It is shown that a combination of the following effects can explain the main characteristics of outburst at large heliocentric distances: the specific exothermic processes in cometary nucleus (as the HCN polymerisation and the crystallization of the water amorphous ice, connected with the ejection of the large quantities of dust) and the sublimation of CO or from the comet's nucleus. The obtained results are in good agreement with observations.

Key words: comets: general comets: individual: P/Schwassmann - Wachmann 1

* e-mail: gronk@atena.univ.rzeszow.pl

Send offprint requests to: P. Gronkowski

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Contents

• 1. Introduction
• 2. The model of outburst
• 3. Results
• 4. Conclusion
• References

© European Southern Observatory (ESO) 1998

Online publication: September 14, 1998
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