Interaction effects between solar wind and comet Bennett

Abstract

Observations of the solar wind and the comet Bennett made during the period from Mar. 23 to Apr. 5, 1970 are considered. During this period the position of the comet had been comparatively close to earth at a distance of about 0.7 AU. Plasma data from four space probes and photographs of a number of observatories are taken into account. The relation between a sudden change in the velocity of the solar wind and the occurrence of a pronounced disturbance in the cometary tail is investigated.