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Statistical test of the distribution of perihelion points and its implication for cometary origin

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 April 2016

S. Yabushita
S. Yabushita*
Affiliation:
Department of Applied Mathematics and Physics, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606, JAPAN

Abstract

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The distribution of perihelion points of long-period comets is known to cluster towards the solar apex, and some authors ascribe it to north-south asymmetry in the distribution of observers. Validity or otherwise of this alleged selection effect is tested by randomly picking up the same number of perihelia in the southern (δ < 0) as those in the northern (δ > 0) hemisphere. It is shown that the observed clustering cannot be ascribed to the asymmetry of observers. Further, 67 comets which are new in Oort’s sense are tested similary. The character of their distribution is similar to that of all the known comets. It appears difficult to interpret the clustering in terms of a recent stellar disturbance of the Oort cloud.

Type
Section I. Origin of Comets
Information
International Astronomical Union Colloquium , Volume 83: Dynamics of Comets: Their Origin and Evolution , 1985 , pp. 11 - 17
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1985

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