Quasi-Hilda Comet 231P/LINEAR-NEAT: Observation at aphelion using Himalayan Chandra Telescope (HCT)

Abstract

Comet 231P/LINEAR-NEAT observed around aphelion at 4.88 AU, using 2.0 m Himalayan Chandra Telescope at Mt. Saraswati, Hanle , India. CCD aperture photometry performed and $R_{C}$-band magnitude $21.37\pm 0.08 $ mag obtained. Comet 231P surface brightness profiles compared with field star and found similar, within low level noise in the data; its implicate no cometary activity. We measured dust production levels in term of the quantity $Af\rho$, which was estimated 5.0 cm. Most of the comet observed at perihelion but not aphelion, if we need to calculate total comet dust contribution in the solar system, this type of study may play important role.