Schmidt radial

The Schmidt radial is a way to describe how the shape of a comet's nucleus changes over time as it approaches the Sun. Specifically, it measures the increase in the comet’s activity or brightness relative to its distance from the Sun. Essentially, it helps scientists understand how quickly a comet becomes active or brightens as it gets closer, often represented as a parameter that relates to the comet’s development and physical characteristics. This concept aids in predicting comet behavior and studying their composition and structure.