An Optical Survey of the Active Centaur C/NEAT (2001 T4)

Abstract

ABSTRACT We present the results of optical observations of C/NEAT (2001 T4) taken on three dates between 2001 October and 2002 September at the University of Hawaii 2.2 m telescope. Coma was present for each observation, but the activity level was variable. We present surface brightness profiles, dust production rates, and evidence for structure in the coma. There is a radial gradient in coma color, with the outer coma exhibiting the least red colors. The object’s V−R and R−I colors indicate that this is one of the reddest objects with a Centaur‐type orbit. CR - Copyright © 2003 The University of Chicago Press