Are cometary nuclei like asteroids?

Abstract

Simultaneous optical and infrared observations have been made to determine the radii, albedos, and spectral reflectivities of two cometary nuclei for comparison with asteroids. The cometary nuclei are dark, highly elongated, and larger than commonly assumed. The two comets are very different from each other. The reflection spectrum of the nucleus of comet Neujmin 1 is consistent only with that of an S asteroid but the albedo is much darker than for any S asteroid. The properties of the nucleus of comet Arend-Rigaux are consistent with the properties of a C or F asteroid.