POLARIZATION STUDIES OF COMET AUSTIN

Comet Austin (1989c1) was observed during 1990 May and June when its phase angle changed from 26-degrees to 8-degrees. The degree of linear polarization was seen to change from positive to negative polarizations at a phase angle of 20.5-degrees, with a rate of change of 0.19 per cent per degree in the R waveband. This phase dependence of polarization is similar to that found for other comets, except that the dust grains giving rise to the polarization have a higher albedo than those found in other comets at similar distances from the Sun. No unusual activity in the form of jets or shells is seen in the polarization images.