CARBON-MONOXIDE OUTGASSING FROM COMET-P/SCHWASSMANN WACHMANN-1

We observed the J(2-1) and (1-0) lines of CO in Comet P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1 with high spectral resolution at four different epochs. The line profile is dominated by a very narrow (0.14 km sec(-1) FWHM) component blueshifted by 0.48 km sec(-1) with a fainter component redshifted at 0.30 km sec(-1). We infer the kinematics of the coma, cold (similar or equal to 10 K) kinetic and rotational temperatures, and a CO production rate of 5 x 10(28) Sec(-1) in this distant comet. (C) 1995 Academic Press, Inc.