Optical spectroscopy of comet C/2014 Q2 (Lovejoy) from the Mount Abu Infrared Observatory

Abstract

Spectra of comet C/2014 Q2 (Lovejoy) were taken with a low-resolution spectrograph mounted on the 0.5-m telescope at the Mount Abu Infrared Observatory (MIRO), India during 2015 January to May, covering the perihelion and post-perihelion periods. The spectra showed strong molecular emission bands (C2, C3 and CN) in January, close to perihelion. We obtained the scale-lengths for these molecules by fitting the Haser model to the observed column densities. The variations of gas production rates and production rate ratios with heliocentric distance were studied. The extent of dust continuum and its variation with heliocentric distance was also investigated using the Afρ parameter. The comet is seen to become more active in the post-perihelion phase, thus showing an asymmetric behaviour about the perihelion.