The Slow‐Rotating Nucleus of Comet C/2013 R1 (Lovejoy)

ABSTRACT The close approach of comet C/2013 R1 (Lovejoy) allowed us to conduct an in‐depth study of the morphology of the inner coma. From the measurement of the dust emission structures expanding near the cometary nucleus in November–December 2013, we derived a slow rotation period of h. The comet's spin axis is oriented approximately at RA = 332° and Dec = +47°. Numerical models of the inner coma suggest that its morphology was related to the presence of at least four main active sources located at different latitudes on the cometary nucleus, emitting dust of relatively small size and with variable velocity.