Meteoroids from periodic comet d'Arrest

Abstract

The predicted anomalous tail of periodic comet d'Arrest was photographed and photometrically studied. The derived particle-size distribution function varies inversely according to slightly higher than the 4-th power of the size. Particle dimensions span a few orders of magnitude, the mean size being in the general range of 0.01 to 0.1 cm depending on the assumed bulk density. The determination of the amount of the ejected dust is complicated by large uncertainties in the particle albedo. The product of the particle albedo and of the production rate of meteoroids that remain gravitationally bound to the solar system is found to be about 3000 g/s at the time of maximum activity and some 200 g/s when averaged over the comet's revolution period. The contribution of the comet to the interplanetary dust cloud is insignificant, unless the albedo of the debris from the comet is as low as 0.1 percent.