Analysis of past comet apparitions

88P/Howell

1998


Three observers of the german comet section succeeded in observing comet 88P/Howell. Adding 70 international observations to their estimates yields a rather great difference in the brightness evolution before and after perihelion, according to the formulae

pre-perihelion:  m = 5.8m + 5×log D + 27.5×log r,
post-perihelion: m = 7.7m + 5×log D + 10.5×log r,

indicating a maximum brightness of 10.2m at the end of September. In mid-August the coma diameter showed a suprisingly sudden increase from 2' (120.000 km) to 4' (250.000 km). Since then, however, it has decreased to 2.5' (about 200.000 km). The degree of condensation hovered around DC 3-4 for the most time, but has decreased to DC 2-3 during the last weeks.

Brightness evolution and coma diameter

Andreas Kammerer


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