APERTURE POLARIMETRY AND PHOTOMETRY OF COMET C/1999 S4 (LINEAR)

N.N.Kiselev, F.P.Velichko, S.F.Velichko

Polarimetric and photometric observations of Comet LINEAR S4 were carried out at the 70-cm telescope of Kharkiv National University Observatory from June 24 to July 29, 2000. The narrow-band cometary filters and wide-band RG645 filter were used. We have measured linear polarization at phase angles of 54.2 -121.2deg and found out that the maximal degree of polarization in the green continuum domaine (5260 A) is 24.5% and lie at a phase angle close to 98deg. The polarization data for the comet are in good agreement with the data for dusty comet such as C/1996 B2 (Hyakutake). The fluxes for the C2 and C3 emission bands and dusty continuum and the corresponding production rates for the Comet LINEAR S4 will be obtained.

Comet LINEAR S4, 19 July 2000, 0.7-m reflector, no filter CCD image, ST-6UV camera. Obtained by F.Velichko at Chuguevskaja Observing Station of Astronomical Observatory of Kharkiv Nastional University.