Data Set Overview
=================
This dataset contains brightness data for 17 comets across multiple
observations over time--allowing users to obtain lightcurves--and rotational
properties (period, pole position, etc.) reported in Samarasinha et al. (2004).
The data are taken from the papers where the observers reported their original
results.

The data set only contains observations based on comet magnitudes. Papers that
found the rotation period based on coma morphology or changes in the production
rate of some comet species are not considered. The data are organized as one
table for each comet excluding comets 2P/Encke and 49P/Arend-Rigaux, for which
there are separate optical and infrared data. For comet 2P/Encke there is also a
table that represents measurements of the bare nucleus magnitude. The tables
also contain heliocentric and geocentric distance, the phase angle during each
observation, and information about the filters and apertures with which the data
were obtained. In some cases the rotational phase is indicated.


Confidence Level Overview
=========================
The dataset contains the results of observations and measurements published in
various journal papers. These papers are listed in the references.  The user is
encouraged to consult the published papers for the various caveats and
uncertainties in the data.


References
==========
A'Hearn M. F., Campins H., Schleicher D.
  G., and Millis R. L. (1989) The nucleus of Comet P/Tempel 2.
  Astrophys. J., 347, 11551166.

Bus S. J., Bowell E., Harris A. W., and
  Hewitt A. V. (1989) 2060 Chiron  CCD and electronographic photometry.
  Icarus, 77, 223238.

Delahodde C. E., Meech K. J., Hainaut O.
  R., and Dotto E. (2001) Detailed phase function of comet 28P/Neujmin
  1. Astron. Astrophys., 376, 672685.

Fernandez Y. R., C. M. Lisse, K. H.
  Ulrich, S. B. Peschke, H. A. Weaver, M. F. A'Hearn, P. P. Lamy, T. A.
  Livengood, and T. Kostiuk, Physical properties of the nucleus of comet
  2P/Encke. Icarus, 147, 145160, 2000.
  
Fitzsimmons A. and I. P. Williams, The
  nucleus of comet P/Levy 1991 XI. Astron. Astrophys., 289, 304310,
  1994.
  
Gutierrez P. J., J. de Leon, L. Jorda,
  J. Licandro, L. M. Lara, and P. Lamy, New spin period determination
  for comet 6P/dArrest. Astron. Astrophys., 407, L37L40, 2003.
  
Hsieh H. H., D. C. Jewitt, and Y. R.
  Fernandez, The strange case of 133P/Elst-Pizarro: A comet amongst the
  asteroids. Astron. J., in press, 2003.
  
Jewitt D. and Luu J. (1989) A CCD
  portrait of comet P/Tempel 2. Astron. J., 97, 17661841.
  
Jewitt D. C. and K. J. Meech, CCD
  photometry of comet P/Encke. Astron. J., 93, 15421548, 1987.
  
Jewitt D. and S. Sheppard, The nucleus
  of comet 48P/Johnson. Astron. J., in press, 2003.
  
Jewitt D., S. Sheppard, and Y.
  Fernandez, 143P/Kowal- Mrkos and the shapes of cometary nuclei.
  Astron. J., 125, 33663377, 2003.
  
Lamy P. L., Toth I., and Weaver H. A.
  (1998a) Hubble Space Telescope observations of the nucleus and inner
  coma of comet 19P/1904 Y2 (Borrelly). Astron. Astrophys., 337,
  945954.
  
Lamy P. L., I. Toth, M. F. A'Hearn, H. A
  Weaver, and P. R. Weissman (2001) Hubble Space Telescope observations
  of the nucleus of comet 9P/Tempel 1. Icarus, 154, 337344, 2001.
  
Lamy P. L., I. Toth, L. Jorda, O.
  Groussin, M. F. A'Hearn, and H. A. Weaver, The nucleus of comet
  22P/Kopff and its inner coma. Icarus, 156, 442455, 2002.
  
Luu J. and D. Jewitt, The nucleus of
  comet P/Encke. Icarus, 86, 6981, 1990.
  
Luu J. X. and D. C. Jewitt,
  Near-aphelion CCD photometry of comet P/Schwass-Mann-Wachmann 2.
  Astron. J., 104, 22432249, 1992.
  
Meech K. J., M. J. S. Belton, B. E. A.
  Mueller, M. W. Dicksion, and H. R. Li, Nucleus properties of
  P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1. Astron. J., 106, 12221236, 1993.
  
Meech K. J., J. M. Bauer, and O. R.
  Hainaut, Rotation of comet 46P/Wirtanen. Astron. Astrophys., 326,
  12681276, 1997.
  
Millis R. L., A'Hearn M. F., and Campins
  H. (1988) An investigation of the nucleus and coma of Comet
  P/Arend-Rigaux. Astrophys. J., 324, 11941209.
  
Mueller B. E. A. and Ferrin I. (1996)
  Change in the rotational period of comet P/Tempel 2 between the 1988
  and 1994 apparitions. Icarus, 123, 463477.
  
Osip D. J., Campins H., and Schleicher
  D. G. (1995) The rotation state of 4015 Wilson-Harrington: Revisiting
  origins for the near-Earth asteroids. Icarus, 114, 423426.
  
Samarasinha N. H., Mueller B. E. A.,
  Belton M. J. S., Jorda L. (2004) Rotation of Cometary Nuclei. Comets
  II, 281299, 2004