AUTHORS: Colin Snodgrass (ESO, Chile), Alan Fitzsimmons, Stephen Lowry (Queen's University 
Belfast, UK)

ABSTRACT:

We present results from our observations of short period cometary nuclei, taken with the NTT 
(La Silla) and the INT (La Palma). We have performed time-series observations of a number of 
nuclei, and use these to constrain their rotation periods, elongations, sizes and bulk 
densities. We also measure surface colours of nuclei through multi-filter photometry. The 
results from our combined database on Jupiter Family Comets are given, and these general 
population properties are compared with those for other populations, in particular Kuiper 
Belt Objects. We find evidence of a flat spin-rate distribution, a low cut-off in bulk 
density, and colours that differ from, but can be linked with, those of the KBOs.