Abstract
Recent observations provide evidence for approximately 2.2 day and 7.4 day periods in phenomena associated with the nucleus of comet Halley. Here I propose a model for the rotation of the nucleus on the assumption that it is homogeneous and a torque-free rigid rotator. It spins about its long axis with a period of 7.4 days, while this axis processes about a fixed direction with a period of 2.2 days. To satisfy the moments of inertia, the precession angle is to be 77°. This model settles the major problems associated with the recent controversy of two rotation periods.
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Sekanina, Z. Nucleus of comet Halley as a torque-free rigid rotator. Nature 325, 326–328 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1038/325326a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/325326a0
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