Abstract
We present results of polarimetry and photometry of comet C/2004 Q2 (Machholz) obtained with the 0.7-m telescope of Institute of Astronomy at the Karazin Kharkiv National University on February 3 and 4, and March 4 and 14, 2005. The observations were carried out with a one-channel photoelectric photometer-polarimeter. The IHW continuum UC (λ3650/80 A), BC (λ4845/65 A), RC (λ6840/90 A) and emission filters CN (λ3871/50 A), C3 (λ4060/70 A), and C2 (λ5140/90 A) were used. Degree of the comet polarization at phase angles ≈ 52° and ≈44° in the red continuum was close to that for so called dusty comets. The comet had a typical spectral gradient of polarization ΔP/Δλ=0.86% per 1000 A. In the framework of the Haser model we have found the gas production rates Q of the CN, C3 and C2 species and the dust production rates Afρ on February 4 and March 14, 2005. The ratio log[Afρ (BC)/Q(CN)] was compared with data for other comets. The normalized spectral gradient of cometary dust S’(BC,RC) was 8.7%/1000 A for February 4 and 17.0%/1000 A for March 14. We conclude that comet C/2004 Q2 (Machholz) in many respects is a typical dusty comet.
Published Version
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