The activity of comet C/2007 D1 (LINEAR) at 9.7 AU from the sun

Abstract

We report on the unusual distant activity of the dynamically new comet C/2007 D1 (LINEAR), observed at rh = 9.7 AU postperihelion. This comet is particularly interesting because of its quite large perihelion distance (rq = 8.8 AU). Methods.We analyse V and R band images taken at the TNG telescope to characterise the dust coma of the comet and investigate its photometry, colours, and dust production. Results.The colour of the dust is redder than the Sun (V-R = 0.505 ± 0.093 at the photometric aperture of radius 2.2"). The A f. value is measured to be 1983±81 cm for an aperture of radius = 2.2"". An upper limit to the cometary nucleus radius of aN = 18 km is derived. A dust mass-loss rate of dMd dt = 5.3 × 102 kg s-1 is measured, which implies that C/2007 D1 (LINEAR) is a very active comet despite its quite large perihelion distance. © ESO, 2010.