Published online by Cambridge University Press: 22 February 2018
The various radio searches for cometary molecules finally came to fruition with the radio detections of CH, OH, HCN and CH3CN and several unidentified species in Comet Kohoutek (1973f) and the detection of H2O emission from Comet Bradfield (1974b) As a result of these detections we have learned something about why past radio searches of other comets for molecules were less than successful. Also, it is now possible to identify and discuss some of the similarities and differences between cometary molecules and interstellar molecules, particularly with regard to the excitation and chemistry Finally, given the observed projected densities and resulting gas production rates, the feasibility of future radio molecular observations of comets can be discussed.