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Results are reported from ground-based photometric measurements of the variations in Comet Halley emissions at different wavelengths in order to calculate the comet rotation rate. The data, gathered at Cerro Tololo, included the OH, NH, CN, C3, CO(+) and C2 bands and continuum emissions at 3650 and 4845 A. Emphasis is placed on the C2 data at 5140 A. Both a periodic variation and a secular decrease was detected through March-April 1986. Light curves generated with the data support a rotational period just short of 7.4 days.

The first direct evidence for the onset of sublimation of a comet nucleus is reported. Emission due to CN observed in spectra of the comet P/Halley provides evidence for the development of the gas coma. Broad-band photometric observations of the comet indicate that the dust coma developed near a preperihelion heliocentric distance r of about 6 AU. Rates of gas production and brightening for the comet have been derived at r of 4-6 AU. The mean preperihelion nuclear magnitude derived for the comet was used to calculate an effective radius of the nucleus, which for plausible values of the geometric albedo lies in the range 1-4 km.