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On the rotation of cometary nuclei and small asteroids

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 April 2016

P. Farinella ,
P. Paolicchi  and
V. Zappala
P. Farinella
Affiliation:
Department of Mathematics, University of Pisa, Italy
P. Paolicchi
Affiliation:
Institute of Astronomy, University of Pisa, Italy
V. Zappala
Affiliation:
Astronomical Observatory of Torino, Pino Torinese, Italy

Abstract

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The spin rate distributions of comet nuclei and small asteroids are compared, and it is shown that Whipple’s (1982) finding of a faster average rotation for the asteroid sample was due to observational biases. In fact, the presently available rotational data do not exhibit any clear differentiation among comet nuclei and asteroids, except possibly for a higher abundance of short rotational periods among the Apollo-Amor objects.

Type
Section III. Meteor Streams and Interrelations with Minor Planets
Information
International Astronomical Union Colloquium , Volume 83: Dynamics of Comets: Their Origin and Evolution , 1985 , pp. 173 - 178
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1985

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