Absolute spectrophotometry of comet Kohoutek 1973f during post-perihelion passage

Abstract

Absolute spectrophotometry of the coma of Comet Kohoutek 1973f during post-perihelion period has been presented for seven nights in January 1984. Moderately wide range of heliocentric distance (0.436-0.799 AU) covered during observations allowed us to study the flux variation of emission bands with heliocentric distance. The emission features of CN, CH, C₂, C₃ and NaI have been identified in this comet. The abundances of CN and C₂ have been estimated and the production rates of CN, C₂ and C₃ have been derived. Production rates of CN of C₂ seem to vary as r- ⁰· ³³ and r -³·⁵⁰ respectively. The continuum of the comet became more and more redder as the heliocentric distance of the comet increased and phase angle decreased.