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Jones GH, Snodgrass C, Tubiana C, Küppers M, Kawakita H, Lara LM, Agarwal J, André N, Attree N, Auster U, Bagnulo S, Bannister M, Beth A, Bowles N, Coates A, Colangeli L, Corral van Damme C, Da Deppo V, De Keyser J, Della Corte V, Edberg N, El-Maarry MR, Faggi S, Fulle M, Funase R, Galand M, Goetz C, Groussin O, Guilbert-Lepoutre A, Henri P, Kasahara S, Kereszturi A, Kidger M, Knight M, Kokotanekova R, Kolmasova I, Kossacki K, Kührt E, Kwon Y, La Forgia F, Levasseur-Regourd AC, Lippi M, Longobardo A, Marschall R, Morawski M, Muñoz O, Näsilä A, Nilsson H, Opitom C, Pajusalu M, Pommerol A, Prech L, Rando N, Ratti F, Rothkaehl H, Rotundi A, Rubin M, Sakatani N, Sánchez JP, Simon Wedlund C, Stankov A, Thomas N, Toth I, Villanueva G, Vincent JB, Volwerk M, Wurz P, Wielders A, Yoshioka K, Aleksiejuk K, Alvarez F, Amoros C, Aslam S, Atamaniuk B, Baran J, Barciński T, Beck T, Behnke T, Berglund M, Bertini I, Bieda M, Binczyk P, Busch MD, Cacovean A, Capria MT, Carr C, Castro Marín JM, Ceriotti M, Chioetto P, Chuchra-Konrad A, Cocola L, Colin F, Crews C, Cripps V, Cupido E, Dassatti A, Davidsson BJR, De Roche T, Deca J, Del Togno S, Dhooghe F, Donaldson Hanna K, Eriksson A, Fedorov A, Fernández-Valenzuela E, Ferretti S, Floriot J, Frassetto F, Fredriksson J, Garnier P, Gaweł D, Génot V, Gerber T, Glassmeier KH, Granvik M, Grison B, Gunell H, Hachemi T, Hagen C, Hajra R, Harada Y, Hasiba J, Haslebacher N, Herranz De La Revilla ML, Hestroffer D, Hewagama T, Holt C, Hviid S, Iakubivskyi I, Inno L, Irwin P, Ivanovski S, Jansky J, Jernej I, Jeszenszky H, Jimenéz J, Jorda L, Kama M, Kameda S, Kelley MSP, Klepacki K, Kohout T, Kojima H, Kowalski T, Kuwabara M, Ladno M, Laky G, Lammer H, Lan R, Lavraud B, Lazzarin M, Le Duff O, Lee QM, Lesniak C, Lewis Z, Lin ZY, Lister T, Lowry S, Magnes W, Markkanen J, Martinez Navajas I, Martins Z, Matsuoka A, Matyjasiak B, Mazelle C, Mazzotta Epifani E, Meier M, Michaelis H, Micheli M, Migliorini A, Millet AL, Moreno F, Mottola S, Moutounaick B, Muinonen K, Müller DR, Murakami G, Murata N, Myszka K, Nakajima S, Nemeth Z, Nikolajev A, Nordera S, Ohlsson D, Olesk A, Ottacher H, Ozaki N, Oziol C, Patel M, Savio Paul A, Penttilä A, Pernechele C, Peterson J, Petraglio E, Piccirillo AM, Plaschke F, Polak S, Postberg F, Proosa H, Protopapa S, Puccio W, Ranvier S, Raymond S, Richter I, Rieder M, Rigamonti R, Ruiz Rodriguez I, Santolik O, Sasaki T, Schrödter R, Shirley K, Slavinskis A, Sodor B, Soucek J, Stephenson P, Stöckli L, Szewczyk P, Troznai G, Uhlir L, Usami N, Valavanoglou A, Vaverka J, Wang W, Wang XD, Wattieaux G, Wieser M, Wolf S, Yano H, Yoshikawa I, Zakharov V, Zawistowski T, Zuppella P, Rinaldi G, Ji H. The Comet Interceptor Mission. Space Sci Rev 2024; 220:9. [PMID: 38282745 PMCID: PMC10808369 DOI: 10.1007/s11214-023-01035-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2022] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 01/30/2024]
Abstract
Here we describe the novel, multi-point Comet Interceptor mission. It is dedicated to the exploration of a little-processed long-period comet, possibly entering the inner Solar System for the first time, or to encounter an interstellar object originating at another star. The objectives of the mission are to address the following questions: What are the surface composition, shape, morphology, and structure of the target object? What is the composition of the gas and dust in the coma, its connection to the nucleus, and the nature of its interaction with the solar wind? The mission was proposed to the European Space Agency in 2018, and formally adopted by the agency in June 2022, for launch in 2029 together with the Ariel mission. Comet Interceptor will take advantage of the opportunity presented by ESA's F-Class call for fast, flexible, low-cost missions to which it was proposed. The call required a launch to a halo orbit around the Sun-Earth L2 point. The mission can take advantage of this placement to wait for the discovery of a suitable comet reachable with its minimum Δ V capability of 600 ms - 1 . Comet Interceptor will be unique in encountering and studying, at a nominal closest approach distance of 1000 km, a comet that represents a near-pristine sample of material from the formation of the Solar System. It will also add a capability that no previous cometary mission has had, which is to deploy two sub-probes - B1, provided by the Japanese space agency, JAXA, and B2 - that will follow different trajectories through the coma. While the main probe passes at a nominal 1000 km distance, probes B1 and B2 will follow different chords through the coma at distances of 850 km and 400 km, respectively. The result will be unique, simultaneous, spatially resolved information of the 3-dimensional properties of the target comet and its interaction with the space environment. We present the mission's science background leading to these objectives, as well as an overview of the scientific instruments, mission design, and schedule.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geraint H. Jones
- Mullard Space Science Laboratory, University College London, Holmbury St. Mary, Dorking, UK
- The Centre for Planetary Sciences at UCL/Birkbeck, London, UK
| | | | | | - Michael Küppers
- European Space Agency (ESA), European Space Astronomy Centre (ESAC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Hideyo Kawakita
- Koyama Astronomical Observatory, Kyoto Sangyo University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Luisa M. Lara
- Instituto de Astrofisica de Andalucía – CSIC, Granada, Spain
| | - Jessica Agarwal
- Institut für Geophysik und extraterrestrische Physik, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Nicolas André
- IRAP, CNRS, University Toulouse 3, CNES, Toulouse, France
| | - Nicholas Attree
- Instituto de Astrofisica de Andalucía – CSIC, Granada, Spain
| | - Uli Auster
- Institut für Geophysik und extraterrestrische Physik, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany
| | | | | | - Arnaud Beth
- Department of Physics, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Neil Bowles
- Department of Physics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Andrew Coates
- Mullard Space Science Laboratory, University College London, Holmbury St. Mary, Dorking, UK
- The Centre for Planetary Sciences at UCL/Birkbeck, London, UK
| | | | | | - Vania Da Deppo
- CNR-Institute for Photonics and Nanotechnologies, Padova, Italy
| | - Johan De Keyser
- Royal Belgian Institute of Space Aeronomy, Brussels, Belgium
| | | | - Niklas Edberg
- Swedish Institute of Space Physics, Uppsala/Kiruna, Sweden
| | - Mohamed Ramy El-Maarry
- Space and Planetary Science Center and Department of Earth Sciences, Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Sara Faggi
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, USA
| | - Marco Fulle
- INAF – Osservatorio Astronomico di Trieste, Trieste, Italy
| | - Ryu Funase
- Institute of Space and Astronautical Science, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Marina Galand
- Department of Physics, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | | | - Olivier Groussin
- Laboratoire d’Astrophysique de Marseille, Aix-Marseille Université, CNRS, Marseille, France
| | | | - Pierre Henri
- Laboratoire Lagrange, CNRS, OCA, Université Côte d’Azur, and LPC2E, CNRS, Université d’Orléans, CNES, Orléans, France
| | | | - Akos Kereszturi
- Konkoly Astronomical Institute, Research Centre for Astronomy and Earth Sciences, HUN-REN, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Mark Kidger
- European Space Agency (ESA), European Space Astronomy Centre (ESAC), Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Rosita Kokotanekova
- Institute of Astronomy and National Astronomical Observatory, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Ivana Kolmasova
- Institute of Atmospheric Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | | | - Ekkehard Kührt
- DLR, Institute of Optical Sensor Systems, Berlin, Germany
| | - Yuna Kwon
- Caltech/IPAC, 1200 E California Blvd, MC 100-22 Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
| | | | | | - Manuela Lippi
- Institut für Geophysik und extraterrestrische Physik, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany
| | | | - Raphael Marschall
- CNRS, Laboratoire J.-L. Lagrange, Observatoire de la Côte d’Azur, Nice, France
| | - Marek Morawski
- Space Research Centre of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Olga Muñoz
- Instituto de Astrofisica de Andalucía – CSIC, Granada, Spain
| | - Antti Näsilä
- VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd, Espoo, Finland
| | - Hans Nilsson
- Swedish Institute of Space Physics, Uppsala/Kiruna, Sweden
| | | | | | - Antoine Pommerol
- Space Research and Planetary Sciences, Physics Institute, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | | | - Nicola Rando
- European Space Agency, ESTEC, Noordwijk, The Netherlands
| | | | - Hanna Rothkaehl
- Space Research Centre of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Alessandra Rotundi
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie, Università degli Studi di Napoli “Parthenope”, Napoli, Italy
| | - Martin Rubin
- Space Research and Planetary Sciences, Physics Institute, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Naoya Sakatani
- Institute of Space and Astronautical Science, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Joan Pau Sánchez
- Institut Supérieur de l’Aéronautique et de l’Espace, Toulouse, France
| | | | | | - Nicolas Thomas
- Space Research and Planetary Sciences, Physics Institute, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Imre Toth
- Konkoly Astronomical Institute, Research Centre for Astronomy and Earth Sciences, HUN-REN, Budapest, Hungary
| | | | | | - Martin Volwerk
- Austrian Academy of Sciences, Space Research Institute, Graz, Austria
| | - Peter Wurz
- Space Research and Planetary Sciences, Physics Institute, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Arno Wielders
- European Space Agency, ESTEC, Noordwijk, The Netherlands
| | | | - Konrad Aleksiejuk
- Space Research Centre of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | | | - Carine Amoros
- IRAP, CNRS, University Toulouse 3, CNES, Toulouse, France
| | - Shahid Aslam
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, USA
| | - Barbara Atamaniuk
- Space Research Centre of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Jędrzej Baran
- Space Research Centre of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Tomasz Barciński
- Space Research Centre of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Thomas Beck
- Space Research and Planetary Sciences, Physics Institute, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Thomas Behnke
- DLR Institute of Planetary Research, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Ivano Bertini
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie, Università degli Studi di Napoli “Parthenope”, Napoli, Italy
| | | | | | - Martin-Diego Busch
- Space Research and Planetary Sciences, Physics Institute, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | | | | | - Chris Carr
- Department of Physics, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | | | | | - Paolo Chioetto
- CNR-Institute for Photonics and Nanotechnologies, Padova, Italy
| | | | - Lorenzo Cocola
- CNR-Institute for Photonics and Nanotechnologies, Padova, Italy
| | - Fabrice Colin
- LPC2E, CNRS, Université d’Orléans, CNES, Orléans, France
| | | | | | | | - Alberto Dassatti
- REDS, School of Management and Engineering Vaud, HES-SO University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland, Delémont, Switzerland
| | | | - Thierry De Roche
- Space Research and Planetary Sciences, Physics Institute, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Jan Deca
- Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, USA
| | | | | | | | | | - Andrey Fedorov
- IRAP, CNRS, University Toulouse 3, CNES, Toulouse, France
| | | | - Stefano Ferretti
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie, Università degli Studi di Napoli “Parthenope”, Napoli, Italy
| | - Johan Floriot
- Laboratoire d’Astrophysique de Marseille, Aix-Marseille Université, CNRS, Marseille, France
| | - Fabio Frassetto
- CNR-Institute for Photonics and Nanotechnologies, Padova, Italy
| | | | | | | | - Vincent Génot
- IRAP, CNRS, University Toulouse 3, CNES, Toulouse, France
| | - Thomas Gerber
- Space Research and Planetary Sciences, Physics Institute, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Karl-Heinz Glassmeier
- Institut für Geophysik und extraterrestrische Physik, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Mikael Granvik
- Department of Physics, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Asteroid Engineering Lab, Luleå University of Technology, Kiruna, Sweden
| | - Benjamin Grison
- Institute of Atmospheric Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | | | | | - Christian Hagen
- Austrian Academy of Sciences, Space Research Institute, Graz, Austria
| | | | | | - Johann Hasiba
- Austrian Academy of Sciences, Space Research Institute, Graz, Austria
| | - Nico Haslebacher
- Space Research and Planetary Sciences, Physics Institute, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | | | - Daniel Hestroffer
- IMCCE, Paris Observatory, Université PSL, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, Univ. Lille, Paris, France
| | | | | | - Stubbe Hviid
- DLR Institute of Planetary Research, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Laura Inno
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie, Università degli Studi di Napoli “Parthenope”, Napoli, Italy
| | - Patrick Irwin
- Department of Physics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | | | - Jiri Jansky
- Institute of Atmospheric Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Irmgard Jernej
- Austrian Academy of Sciences, Space Research Institute, Graz, Austria
| | - Harald Jeszenszky
- Austrian Academy of Sciences, Space Research Institute, Graz, Austria
| | - Jaime Jimenéz
- Instituto de Astrofisica de Andalucía – CSIC, Granada, Spain
| | - Laurent Jorda
- Laboratoire d’Astrophysique de Marseille, Aix-Marseille Université, CNRS, Marseille, France
| | - Mihkel Kama
- Tartu Observatory, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
- University College London, London, UK
| | | | | | | | - Tomáš Kohout
- Department of Geosciences and Geography, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Institute of Geology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Hirotsugu Kojima
- Research Institute for Sustainable Humanosphere, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Tomasz Kowalski
- Space Research Centre of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | | | | | - Gunter Laky
- Austrian Academy of Sciences, Space Research Institute, Graz, Austria
| | - Helmut Lammer
- Austrian Academy of Sciences, Space Research Institute, Graz, Austria
| | - Radek Lan
- Institute of Atmospheric Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Benoit Lavraud
- Laboratoire d’astrophysique de Bordeaux, Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France
| | - Monica Lazzarin
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | | | - Qiu-Mei Lee
- IRAP, CNRS, University Toulouse 3, CNES, Toulouse, France
| | | | - Zoe Lewis
- Department of Physics, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Zhong-Yi Lin
- Institute of Astronomy, National Central University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | | | | | - Werner Magnes
- Austrian Academy of Sciences, Space Research Institute, Graz, Austria
| | - Johannes Markkanen
- Institut für Geophysik und extraterrestrische Physik, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany
| | | | - Zita Martins
- Centro de Química Estrutural, Institute of Molecular Sciences and Department of Chemical Engineering, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | | | | | | | | | - Mirko Meier
- Space Research and Planetary Sciences, Physics Institute, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | | | | | | | | | - Fernando Moreno
- Instituto de Astrofisica de Andalucía – CSIC, Granada, Spain
| | | | | | - Karri Muinonen
- Department of Physics, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Daniel R. Müller
- Space Research and Planetary Sciences, Physics Institute, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Go Murakami
- Institute of Space and Astronautical Science, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Naofumi Murata
- Institute of Space and Astronautical Science, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, Kanagawa, Japan
| | | | - Shintaro Nakajima
- Institute of Space and Astronautical Science, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Zoltan Nemeth
- Wigner Research Centre for Physics, Budapest, Hungary
| | | | - Simone Nordera
- CNR-Institute for Photonics and Nanotechnologies, Padova, Italy
| | - Dan Ohlsson
- Swedish Institute of Space Physics, Uppsala/Kiruna, Sweden
| | - Aire Olesk
- Tartu Observatory, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Harald Ottacher
- Austrian Academy of Sciences, Space Research Institute, Graz, Austria
| | - Naoya Ozaki
- Institute of Space and Astronautical Science, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, Kanagawa, Japan
| | | | | | | | - Antti Penttilä
- Department of Physics, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | | | | | - Enrico Petraglio
- REDS, School of Management and Engineering Vaud, HES-SO University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland, Delémont, Switzerland
| | - Alice Maria Piccirillo
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie, Università degli Studi di Napoli “Parthenope”, Napoli, Italy
| | - Ferdinand Plaschke
- Institut für Geophysik und extraterrestrische Physik, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Szymon Polak
- Space Research Centre of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | | | - Herman Proosa
- Tartu Observatory, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | | | - Walter Puccio
- Swedish Institute of Space Physics, Uppsala/Kiruna, Sweden
| | - Sylvain Ranvier
- Royal Belgian Institute of Space Aeronomy, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Sean Raymond
- Laboratoire d’astrophysique de Bordeaux, Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France
| | - Ingo Richter
- Institut für Geophysik und extraterrestrische Physik, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Martin Rieder
- Space Research and Planetary Sciences, Physics Institute, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Roberto Rigamonti
- REDS, School of Management and Engineering Vaud, HES-SO University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland, Delémont, Switzerland
| | | | - Ondrej Santolik
- Institute of Atmospheric Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Takahiro Sasaki
- Institute of Space and Astronautical Science, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, Kanagawa, Japan
| | | | | | | | | | - Jan Soucek
- Institute of Atmospheric Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | | | - Linus Stöckli
- Space Research and Planetary Sciences, Physics Institute, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Paweł Szewczyk
- Space Research Centre of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | | | - Ludek Uhlir
- Institute of Atmospheric Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Naoto Usami
- Institute of Space and Astronautical Science, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Aris Valavanoglou
- Austrian Academy of Sciences, Space Research Institute, Graz, Austria
| | | | - Wei Wang
- Space Research and Planetary Sciences, Physics Institute, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Xiao-Dong Wang
- Swedish Institute of Space Physics, Uppsala/Kiruna, Sweden
| | - Gaëtan Wattieaux
- Laboratoire Plasma et Conversion d’Energie (LAPLACE), CNRS, Université de Toulouse 3, Toulouse, France
| | - Martin Wieser
- Swedish Institute of Space Physics, Uppsala/Kiruna, Sweden
| | - Sebastian Wolf
- Space Research and Planetary Sciences, Physics Institute, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Hajime Yano
- Institute of Space and Astronautical Science, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, Kanagawa, Japan
| | | | - Vladimir Zakharov
- LESIA, Observatoire de Paris, Université PSL, Sorbonne Université, Université Paris Cité, CNRS, Paris, France
| | | | - Paola Zuppella
- CNR-Institute for Photonics and Nanotechnologies, Padova, Italy
| | | | - Hantao Ji
- Department of Astrophysical Sciences, Princeton University, Princeton, USA
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O'Rourke L, Heinisch P, Blum J, Fornasier S, Filacchione G, Van Hoang H, Ciarniello M, Raponi A, Gundlach B, Blasco RA, Grieger B, Glassmeier KH, Küppers M, Rotundi A, Groussin O, Bockelée-Morvan D, Auster HU, Oklay N, Paar G, Perucha MDPC, Kovacs G, Jorda L, Vincent JB, Capaccioni F, Biver N, Parker JW, Tubiana C, Sierks H. The Philae lander reveals low-strength primitive ice inside cometary boulders. Nature 2020; 586:697-701. [PMID: 33116289 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-020-2834-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2020] [Accepted: 08/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
On 12 November 2014, the Philae lander descended towards comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko, bounced twice off the surface, then arrived under an overhanging cliff in the Abydos region. The landing process provided insights into the properties of a cometary nucleus1-3. Here we report an investigation of the previously undiscovered site of the second touchdown, where Philae spent almost two minutes of its cross-comet journey, producing four distinct surface contacts on two adjoining cometary boulders. It exposed primitive water ice-that is, water ice from the time of the comet's formation 4.5 billion years ago-in their interiors while travelling through a crevice between the boulders. Our multi-instrument observations made 19 months later found that this water ice, mixed with ubiquitous dark organic-rich material, has a local dust/ice mass ratio of [Formula: see text], matching values previously observed in freshly exposed water ice from outbursts4 and water ice in shadow5,6. At the end of the crevice, Philae made a 0.25-metre-deep impression in the boulder ice, providing in situ measurements confirming that primitive ice has a very low compressive strength (less than 12 pascals, softer than freshly fallen light snow) and allowing a key estimation to be made of the porosity (75 ± 7 per cent) of the boulders' icy interiors. Our results provide constraints for cometary landers seeking access to a volatile-rich ice sample.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laurence O'Rourke
- European Space Agency (ESA), European Space Astronomy Centre (ESAC), Madrid, Spain.
| | - Philip Heinisch
- Institut für Geophysik und extraterrestrische Physik, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Jürgen Blum
- Institut für Geophysik und extraterrestrische Physik, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Sonia Fornasier
- LESIA, Observatoire de Paris, Université PSL, CNRS, Université de Paris, Sorbonne Université, Meudon, France.,Institut Universitaire de France (IUF), Paris, France
| | - Gianrico Filacchione
- Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica, Istituto di Astrofisica e Planetologia Spaziali, Rome, Italy
| | - Hong Van Hoang
- LESIA, Observatoire de Paris, Université PSL, CNRS, Université de Paris, Sorbonne Université, Meudon, France.,Université Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, Institut de Planétologie et Astrophysique de Grenoble (IPAG), UMR, Grenoble, France
| | - Mauro Ciarniello
- Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica, Istituto di Astrofisica e Planetologia Spaziali, Rome, Italy
| | - Andrea Raponi
- Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica, Istituto di Astrofisica e Planetologia Spaziali, Rome, Italy
| | - Bastian Gundlach
- Institut für Geophysik und extraterrestrische Physik, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Rafael Andrés Blasco
- Telespazio Vega UK Ltd for the European Space Agency (ESA), European Space Astronomy Centre (ESAC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Björn Grieger
- Aurora Technology BV for the European Space Agency (ESA), European Space Astronomy Centre (ESAC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Karl-Heinz Glassmeier
- Institut für Geophysik und extraterrestrische Physik, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Michael Küppers
- European Space Agency (ESA), European Space Astronomy Centre (ESAC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Alessandra Rotundi
- Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica, Istituto di Astrofisica e Planetologia Spaziali, Rome, Italy.,Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie, Universitá degli Studi di Napoli Parthenope, Naples, Italy
| | | | - Dominique Bockelée-Morvan
- LESIA, Observatoire de Paris, Université PSL, CNRS, Université de Paris, Sorbonne Université, Meudon, France
| | - Hans-Ulrich Auster
- Institut für Geophysik und extraterrestrische Physik, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany
| | | | - Gerhard Paar
- Joanneum Research Forschungsgesellschaft, Graz, Austria
| | | | - Gabor Kovacs
- Department of Mechatronics, Optics and Engineering Informatics, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Laurent Jorda
- Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, CNES, LAM, Marseille, France
| | | | - Fabrizio Capaccioni
- Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica, Istituto di Astrofisica e Planetologia Spaziali, Rome, Italy
| | - Nicolas Biver
- LESIA, Observatoire de Paris, Université PSL, CNRS, Université de Paris, Sorbonne Université, Meudon, France
| | - Joel Wm Parker
- Planetary Science Directorate, Southwest Research Institute (SwRI), Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Cecilia Tubiana
- Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica, Istituto di Astrofisica e Planetologia Spaziali, Rome, Italy.,Max-Planck-Institut für Sonnensystemforschung, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Holger Sierks
- Max-Planck-Institut für Sonnensystemforschung, Göttingen, Germany
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3
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El-Maarry MR, Groussin O, Thomas N, Pajola M, Auger AT, Davidsson B, Hu X, Hviid SF, Knollenberg J, Güttler C, Tubiana C, Fornasier S, Feller C, Hasselmann P, Vincent JB, Sierks H, Barbieri C, Lamy P, Rodrigo R, Koschny D, Keller HU, Rickman H, A’Hearn MF, Barucci MA, Bertaux JL, Bertini I, Besse S, Bodewits D, Cremonese G, Da Deppo V, Debei S, De Cecco M, Deller J, Deshapriya JDP, Fulle M, Gutierrez PJ, Hofmann M, Ip WH, Jorda L, Kovacs G, Kramm JR, Kührt E, Küppers M, Lara LM, Lazzarin M, Lin ZY, Lopez Moreno JJ, Marchi S, Marzari F, Mottola S, Naletto G, Oklay N, Pommerol A, Preusker F, Scholten F, Shi X. Surface changes on comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko suggest a more active past. Science 2017; 355:1392-1395. [DOI: 10.1126/science.aak9384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2016] [Accepted: 03/06/2017] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- M. Ramy El-Maarry
- Physikalisches Institut, Universität Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
- Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80301, USA
| | - O. Groussin
- Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, Laboratoire d’Astrophysique de Marseille, UMR 7326, 13388 Marseille, France
| | - N. Thomas
- Physikalisches Institut, Universität Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - M. Pajola
- NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA 94035, USA
| | - A.-T. Auger
- Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, Laboratoire d’Astrophysique de Marseille, UMR 7326, 13388 Marseille, France
| | - B. Davidsson
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CA 91109, USA
| | - X. Hu
- Max-Planck-Institut für Sonnensystemforschung, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - S. F. Hviid
- Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt (DLR), Institut für Planetenforschung, 12489 Berlin, Germany
| | - J. Knollenberg
- Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt (DLR), Institut für Planetenforschung, 12489 Berlin, Germany
| | - C. Güttler
- Max-Planck-Institut für Sonnensystemforschung, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - C. Tubiana
- Max-Planck-Institut für Sonnensystemforschung, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - S. Fornasier
- LESIA, Observatoire de Paris, PSL Research University, CNRS, Université Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, UPMC Université Paris 06, Sorbonne Universités, Meudon Principal Cedex 92195, France
| | - C. Feller
- LESIA, Observatoire de Paris, PSL Research University, CNRS, Université Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, UPMC Université Paris 06, Sorbonne Universités, Meudon Principal Cedex 92195, France
| | - P. Hasselmann
- LESIA, Observatoire de Paris, PSL Research University, CNRS, Université Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, UPMC Université Paris 06, Sorbonne Universités, Meudon Principal Cedex 92195, France
| | - J.-B. Vincent
- Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt (DLR), Institut für Planetenforschung, 12489 Berlin, Germany
| | - H. Sierks
- Max-Planck-Institut für Sonnensystemforschung, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - C. Barbieri
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Padova, 35122 Padova, Italy
| | - P. Lamy
- Laboratoire d’Astrophysique de Marseille, UMR 7326 CNRS & Université Aix-Marseille, 13388 Marseille Cedex 13, France
| | - R. Rodrigo
- Centro de Astrobiología, Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial, 28850 Torrejón de Ardoz, Madrid, Spain
- International Space Science Institute, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - D. Koschny
- Operations Department, European Space Astronomy Centre/ESA, P.O. Box 78, 28691 Villanueva de la Cañada, Madrid, Spain
| | - H. U. Keller
- Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt (DLR), Institut für Planetenforschung, 12489 Berlin, Germany
- Institut für Geophysik und Extraterrestrische Physik, Technische Universität Braunschweig, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany
| | - H. Rickman
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Uppsala University, Box 516, 75120 Uppsala, Sweden
- Polish Academy of Sciences, Space Research Center, 00716 Warsaw, Poland
| | - M. F. A’Hearn
- Department of Astronomy, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - M. A. Barucci
- LESIA, Observatoire de Paris, PSL Research University, CNRS, Université Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, UPMC Université Paris 06, Sorbonne Universités, Meudon Principal Cedex 92195, France
| | - J.-L. Bertaux
- Laboratoire Atmosphères, Milieux, Observations Spatiales (LATMOS), CNRS–Université de Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines–Institut Pierre Simon Laplace, 78280 Guyancourt, France
| | - I. Bertini
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Padova, 35122 Padova, Italy
| | - S. Besse
- Operations Department, European Space Astronomy Centre/ESA, P.O. Box 78, 28691 Villanueva de la Cañada, Madrid, Spain
| | - D. Bodewits
- Department of Astronomy, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - G. Cremonese
- Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica, Osservatorio Astronomico di Padova, 35122 Padova, Italy
| | - V. Da Deppo
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche–Istituto di Fotonica e Nanotecnologie, Unità Organizzativa di Supporto, Padova Luxor, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - S. Debei
- Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | | | - J. Deller
- Max-Planck-Institut für Sonnensystemforschung, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - J. D. P. Deshapriya
- LESIA, Observatoire de Paris, PSL Research University, CNRS, Université Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, UPMC Université Paris 06, Sorbonne Universités, Meudon Principal Cedex 92195, France
| | - M. Fulle
- INAF, Osservatorio Astronomico di Trieste, 34014 Trieste, Italy
| | - P. J. Gutierrez
- Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía (CSIC), c/ Glorieta de la Astronomía s/n, 18008 Granada, Spain
| | - M. Hofmann
- Max-Planck-Institut für Sonnensystemforschung, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - W.-H. Ip
- Graduate Institute of Astronomy, National Central University, Chung-Li 32054, Taiwan
| | - L. Jorda
- Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, Laboratoire d’Astrophysique de Marseille, UMR 7326, 13388 Marseille, France
| | - G. Kovacs
- Max-Planck-Institut für Sonnensystemforschung, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - J.-R. Kramm
- Max-Planck-Institut für Sonnensystemforschung, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - E. Kührt
- Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt (DLR), Institut für Planetenforschung, 12489 Berlin, Germany
| | - M. Küppers
- Operations Department, European Space Astronomy Centre/ESA, P.O. Box 78, 28691 Villanueva de la Cañada, Madrid, Spain
| | - L. M. Lara
- Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía (CSIC), c/ Glorieta de la Astronomía s/n, 18008 Granada, Spain
| | - M. Lazzarin
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Padova, 35122 Padova, Italy
| | - Z.-Yi Lin
- Graduate Institute of Astronomy, National Central University, Chung-Li 32054, Taiwan
| | - J. J. Lopez Moreno
- Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía (CSIC), c/ Glorieta de la Astronomía s/n, 18008 Granada, Spain
| | - S. Marchi
- Solar System Exploration Research, Virtual Institute, Southwest Research Institute, Boulder, CO 80302, USA
| | - F. Marzari
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Padova, 35122 Padova, Italy
| | - S. Mottola
- Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt (DLR), Institut für Planetenforschung, 12489 Berlin, Germany
| | - G. Naletto
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche–Istituto di Fotonica e Nanotecnologie, Unità Organizzativa di Supporto, Padova Luxor, 35131 Padova, Italy
- Department of Information Engineering, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy
- Centro di Ateneo di Studi ed Attivitá Spaziali “Giuseppe Colombo” (CISAS), University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - N. Oklay
- Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt (DLR), Institut für Planetenforschung, 12489 Berlin, Germany
| | - A. Pommerol
- Physikalisches Institut, Universität Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - F. Preusker
- Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt (DLR), Institut für Planetenforschung, 12489 Berlin, Germany
| | - F. Scholten
- Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt (DLR), Institut für Planetenforschung, 12489 Berlin, Germany
| | - X. Shi
- Max-Planck-Institut für Sonnensystemforschung, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
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4
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Fornasier S, Mottola S, Keller HU, Barucci MA, Davidsson B, Feller C, Deshapriya JDP, Sierks H, Barbieri C, Lamy PL, Rodrigo R, Koschny D, Rickman H, A’Hearn M, Agarwal J, Bertaux JL, Bertini I, Besse S, Cremonese G, Da Deppo V, Debei S, De Cecco M, Deller J, El-Maarry MR, Fulle M, Groussin O, Gutierrez PJ, Güttler C, Hofmann M, Hviid SF, Ip WH, Jorda L, Knollenberg J, Kovacs G, Kramm R, Kührt E, Küppers M, Lara ML, Lazzarin M, Moreno JJL, Marzari F, Massironi M, Naletto G, Oklay N, Pajola M, Pommerol A, Preusker F, Scholten F, Shi X, Thomas N, Toth I, Tubiana C, Vincent JB. Rosetta’s comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko sheds its dusty mantle to reveal its icy nature. Science 2016; 354:1566-1570. [DOI: 10.1126/science.aag2671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2016] [Accepted: 10/27/2016] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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5
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Massironi M, Simioni E, Marzari F, Cremonese G, Giacomini L, Pajola M, Jorda L, Naletto G, Lowry S, El-Maarry MR, Preusker F, Scholten F, Sierks H, Barbieri C, Lamy P, Rodrigo R, Koschny D, Rickman H, Keller HU, A'Hearn MF, Agarwal J, Auger AT, Barucci MA, Bertaux JL, Bertini I, Besse S, Bodewits D, Capanna C, Da Deppo V, Davidsson B, Debei S, De Cecco M, Ferri F, Fornasier S, Fulle M, Gaskell R, Groussin O, Gutiérrez PJ, Güttler C, Hviid SF, Ip WH, Knollenberg J, Kovacs G, Kramm R, Kührt E, Küppers M, La Forgia F, Lara LM, Lazzarin M, Lin ZY, Lopez Moreno JJ, Magrin S, Michalik H, Mottola S, Oklay N, Pommerol A, Thomas N, Tubiana C, Vincent JB. Two independent and primitive envelopes of the bilobate nucleus of comet 67P. Nature 2015; 526:402-5. [PMID: 26416730 DOI: 10.1038/nature15511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 120] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2015] [Accepted: 07/10/2015] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The factors shaping cometary nuclei are still largely unknown, but could be the result of concurrent effects of evolutionary and primordial processes. The peculiar bilobed shape of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko may be the result of the fusion of two objects that were once separate or the result of a localized excavation by outgassing at the interface between the two lobes. Here we report that the comet's major lobe is enveloped by a nearly continuous set of strata, up to 650 metres thick, which are independent of an analogous stratified envelope on the minor lobe. Gravity vectors computed for the two lobes separately are closer to perpendicular to the strata than those calculated for the entire nucleus and adjacent to the neck separating the two lobes. Therefore comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko is an accreted body of two distinct objects with 'onion-like' stratification, which formed before they merged. We conclude that gentle, low-velocity collisions occurred between two fully formed kilometre-sized cometesimals in the early stages of the Solar System. The notable structural similarities between the two lobes of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko indicate that the early-forming cometesimals experienced similar primordial stratified accretion, even though they formed independently.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matteo Massironi
- Dipartimento di Geoscienze, University of Padova, via G. Gradenigo 6, 35131 Padova, Italy.,Centro di Ateneo di Studi ed Attività Spaziali "Giuseppe Colombo" (CISAS), University of Padova, via Venezia 15, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | | | - Francesco Marzari
- University of Padova, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Vicolo dell'Osservatorio 3, 35122 Padova, Italy
| | - Gabriele Cremonese
- INAF, Osservatorio Astronomico di Padova, Vicolo dell'Osservatorio 5, 35122 Padova, Italy
| | - Lorenza Giacomini
- Dipartimento di Geoscienze, University of Padova, via G. Gradenigo 6, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Maurizio Pajola
- Centro di Ateneo di Studi ed Attività Spaziali "Giuseppe Colombo" (CISAS), University of Padova, via Venezia 15, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Laurent Jorda
- Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, LAM (Laboratoire d'Astrophysique de Marseille), UMR 7326, 38 rue Frédéric Joliot-Curie, 13388 Marseille, France
| | - Giampiero Naletto
- Centro di Ateneo di Studi ed Attività Spaziali "Giuseppe Colombo" (CISAS), University of Padova, via Venezia 15, 35131 Padova, Italy.,CNR-IFN UOS Padova LUXOR, via Trasea 7, 35131 Padova, Italy.,Department of Information Engineering, University of Padova, via Gradenigo 6/B, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Stephen Lowry
- The University of Kent, School of Physical Sciences, Canterbury, Kent CT2 7NZ, UK
| | | | - Frank Preusker
- Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt (DLR), Institut für Planetenforschung, Rutherfordstraße 2, 12489 Berlin, Germany
| | - Frank Scholten
- Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt (DLR), Institut für Planetenforschung, Rutherfordstraße 2, 12489 Berlin, Germany
| | - Holger Sierks
- Max-Planck-Institut für Sonnensystemforschung, Justus-von-Liebig Weg 3, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Cesare Barbieri
- University of Padova, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Vicolo dell'Osservatorio 3, 35122 Padova, Italy
| | - Philippe Lamy
- Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, LAM (Laboratoire d'Astrophysique de Marseille), UMR 7326, 38 rue Frédéric Joliot-Curie, 13388 Marseille, France
| | - Rafael Rodrigo
- Centro de Astrobiologia, CSIC-INTA, 28850 Torrejon de Ardoz, Madrid, Spain.,International Space Science Institute, Hallerstraße 6, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Detlef Koschny
- Scientific Support Office, European Space Research and Technology Centre/ESA, Keplerlaan 1, Postbus 299, 2201 AZ Noordwijk ZH, The Netherlands
| | - Hans Rickman
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Uppsala University, Box 516, 75120 Uppsala, Sweden.,PAS Space Research Center, Bartycka 18A, 00716 Warszawa, Poland
| | - Horst Uwe Keller
- Institut für Geophysik und extraterrestrische Physik (IGEP), Technische Universität Braunschweig, Mendelssohnstraße 3, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Michael F A'Hearn
- University of Maryland, Department of Astronomy, College Park, Maryland 20742-2421, USA.,Akademie der Wissenschaften zu Göttingen and Max-Planck-Institut für Sonnensystemforschung, Justus-von-Liebig Weg 3, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Jessica Agarwal
- Max-Planck-Institut für Sonnensystemforschung, Justus-von-Liebig Weg 3, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Anne-Thérèse Auger
- Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, LAM (Laboratoire d'Astrophysique de Marseille), UMR 7326, 38 rue Frédéric Joliot-Curie, 13388 Marseille, France
| | - M Antonella Barucci
- LESIA-Observatoire de Paris, CNRS, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Universite Paris Diderot, 5 place J. Janssen, 92195 Meudon, France
| | - Jean-Loup Bertaux
- LATMOS, CNRS/UVSQ/IPSL, 11 boulevard d'Alembert, 78280 Guyancourt, France
| | - Ivano Bertini
- Centro di Ateneo di Studi ed Attività Spaziali "Giuseppe Colombo" (CISAS), University of Padova, via Venezia 15, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Sebastien Besse
- Scientific Support Office, European Space Research and Technology Centre/ESA, Keplerlaan 1, Postbus 299, 2201 AZ Noordwijk ZH, The Netherlands
| | - Dennis Bodewits
- University of Maryland, Department of Astronomy, College Park, Maryland 20742-2421, USA
| | - Claire Capanna
- Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, LAM (Laboratoire d'Astrophysique de Marseille), UMR 7326, 38 rue Frédéric Joliot-Curie, 13388 Marseille, France
| | - Vania Da Deppo
- CNR-IFN UOS Padova LUXOR, via Trasea 7, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Björn Davidsson
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Uppsala University, Box 516, 75120 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Stefano Debei
- Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Padova, via Venezia 1, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | | | - Francesca Ferri
- Centro di Ateneo di Studi ed Attività Spaziali "Giuseppe Colombo" (CISAS), University of Padova, via Venezia 15, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Sonia Fornasier
- LESIA-Observatoire de Paris, CNRS, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Universite Paris Diderot, 5 place J. Janssen, 92195 Meudon, France
| | - Marco Fulle
- INAF-Osservatorio Astronomico, Via Tiepolo 11, 34014 Trieste, Italy
| | | | - Olivier Groussin
- Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, LAM (Laboratoire d'Astrophysique de Marseille), UMR 7326, 38 rue Frédéric Joliot-Curie, 13388 Marseille, France
| | - Pedro J Gutiérrez
- Instituto de Astrofisica de Andalucia (CSIC), Glorieta de la Astronomìa s/n, 18008 Granada, Spain
| | - Carsten Güttler
- Max-Planck-Institut für Sonnensystemforschung, Justus-von-Liebig Weg 3, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Stubbe F Hviid
- Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt (DLR), Institut für Planetenforschung, Rutherfordstraße 2, 12489 Berlin, Germany.,Max-Planck-Institut für Sonnensystemforschung, Justus-von-Liebig Weg 3, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Wing-Huen Ip
- National Central University, Graduate Institute of Astronomy, 300 Chung-Da Road, Chung-Li 32054 Taiwan
| | - Jörg Knollenberg
- Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt (DLR), Institut für Planetenforschung, Rutherfordstraße 2, 12489 Berlin, Germany
| | - Gabor Kovacs
- Max-Planck-Institut für Sonnensystemforschung, Justus-von-Liebig Weg 3, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Rainer Kramm
- Max-Planck-Institut für Sonnensystemforschung, Justus-von-Liebig Weg 3, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Ekkehard Kührt
- Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt (DLR), Institut für Planetenforschung, Rutherfordstraße 2, 12489 Berlin, Germany
| | - Michael Küppers
- Operations Department, European Space Astronomy Centre/ESA, PO Box 78, 28691 Villanueva de la Canada, Madrid, Spain
| | - Fiorangela La Forgia
- University of Padova, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Vicolo dell'Osservatorio 3, 35122 Padova, Italy
| | - Luisa M Lara
- Instituto de Astrofisica de Andalucia (CSIC), Glorieta de la Astronomìa s/n, 18008 Granada, Spain
| | - Monica Lazzarin
- University of Padova, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Vicolo dell'Osservatorio 3, 35122 Padova, Italy
| | - Zhong-Yi Lin
- National Central University, Graduate Institute of Astronomy, 300 Chung-Da Road, Chung-Li 32054 Taiwan
| | - Josè J Lopez Moreno
- Instituto de Astrofisica de Andalucia (CSIC), Glorieta de la Astronomìa s/n, 18008 Granada, Spain
| | - Sara Magrin
- University of Padova, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Vicolo dell'Osservatorio 3, 35122 Padova, Italy
| | - Harald Michalik
- Institut für Datentechnik und Kommunikationsnetze der TU Braunschweig, Hans-Sommer Straße 66, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Stefano Mottola
- Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt (DLR), Institut für Planetenforschung, Rutherfordstraße 2, 12489 Berlin, Germany
| | - Nilda Oklay
- Max-Planck-Institut für Sonnensystemforschung, Justus-von-Liebig Weg 3, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Antoine Pommerol
- Physikalisches Institut der Universität Bern, Sidlerstraße 5, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Nicolas Thomas
- Physikalisches Institut der Universität Bern, Sidlerstraße 5, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Cecilia Tubiana
- Max-Planck-Institut für Sonnensystemforschung, Justus-von-Liebig Weg 3, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Jean-Baptiste Vincent
- Max-Planck-Institut für Sonnensystemforschung, Justus-von-Liebig Weg 3, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
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6
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Vincent JB, Bodewits D, Besse S, Sierks H, Barbieri C, Lamy P, Rodrigo R, Koschny D, Rickman H, Keller HU, Agarwal J, A'Hearn MF, Auger AT, Barucci MA, Bertaux JL, Bertini I, Capanna C, Cremonese G, Da Deppo V, Davidsson B, Debei S, De Cecco M, El-Maarry MR, Ferri F, Fornasier S, Fulle M, Gaskell R, Giacomini L, Groussin O, Guilbert-Lepoutre A, Gutierrez-Marques P, Gutiérrez PJ, Güttler C, Hoekzema N, Höfner S, Hviid SF, Ip WH, Jorda L, Knollenberg J, Kovacs G, Kramm R, Kührt E, Küppers M, La Forgia F, Lara LM, Lazzarin M, Lee V, Leyrat C, Lin ZY, Lopez Moreno JJ, Lowry S, Magrin S, Maquet L, Marchi S, Marzari F, Massironi M, Michalik H, Moissl R, Mottola S, Naletto G, Oklay N, Pajola M, Preusker F, Scholten F, Thomas N, Toth I, Tubiana C. Large heterogeneities in comet 67P as revealed by active pits from sinkhole collapse. Nature 2015; 523:63-6. [PMID: 26135448 DOI: 10.1038/nature14564] [Citation(s) in RCA: 142] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2015] [Accepted: 05/06/2015] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Pits have been observed on many cometary nuclei mapped by spacecraft. It has been argued that cometary pits are a signature of endogenic activity, rather than impact craters such as those on planetary and asteroid surfaces. Impact experiments and models cannot reproduce the shapes of most of the observed cometary pits, and the predicted collision rates imply that few of the pits are related to impacts. Alternative mechanisms like explosive activity have been suggested, but the driving process remains unknown. Here we report that pits on comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko are active, and probably created by a sinkhole process, possibly accompanied by outbursts. We argue that after formation, pits expand slowly in diameter, owing to sublimation-driven retreat of the walls. Therefore, pits characterize how eroded the surface is: a fresh cometary surface will have a ragged structure with many pits, while an evolved surface will look smoother. The size and spatial distribution of pits imply that large heterogeneities exist in the physical, structural or compositional properties of the first few hundred metres below the current nucleus surface.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean-Baptiste Vincent
- Max-Planck-Institut für Sonnensystemforschung, Justus-von-Liebig-Weg 3, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Dennis Bodewits
- University of Maryland, Department of Astronomy, College Park, Maryland 20742-2421, USA
| | - Sébastien Besse
- Scientific Support Office, European Space Research and Technology Centre/ESA, Keplerlaan 1, Postbus 299, 2201 AZ Noordwijk ZH, The Netherlands
| | - Holger Sierks
- Max-Planck-Institut für Sonnensystemforschung, Justus-von-Liebig-Weg 3, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Cesare Barbieri
- University of Padova, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Vicolo dell'Osservatorio 3, 35122 Padova, Italy
| | - Philippe Lamy
- Laboratoire d'Astrophysique de Marseille, UMR 7326, CNRS and Aix Marseille Université, 13388 Marseille Cedex 13, France
| | - Rafael Rodrigo
- 1] Centro de Astrobiologia, CSIC-INTA, 28850 Torrejon de Ardoz, Madrid, Spain [2] International Space Science Institute, Hallerstraße 6, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Detlef Koschny
- Scientific Support Office, European Space Research and Technology Centre/ESA, Keplerlaan 1, Postbus 299, 2201 AZ Noordwijk ZH, The Netherlands
| | - Hans Rickman
- 1] Department of Physics and Astronomy, Uppsala University, Box 516, 75120 Uppsala, Sweden [2] PAS Space Research Center, Bartycka 18A, 00716 Warszawa, Poland
| | - Horst Uwe Keller
- Institut für Geophysik und extraterrestrische Physik (IGEP), Technische Universität Braunschweig, Mendelssohnstraße 3, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Jessica Agarwal
- Max-Planck-Institut für Sonnensystemforschung, Justus-von-Liebig-Weg 3, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Michael F A'Hearn
- 1] University of Maryland, Department of Astronomy, College Park, Maryland 20742-2421, USA [2] Akademie der Wissenschaften zu Göttingen and Max-Planck-Institut für Sonnensystemforschung, Justus-von-Liebig-Weg 3, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Anne-Thérèse Auger
- Laboratoire d'Astrophysique de Marseille, UMR 7326, CNRS and Aix Marseille Université, 13388 Marseille Cedex 13, France
| | - M Antonella Barucci
- LESIA-Observatoire de Paris, CNRS, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Universite Paris Diderot, 5 place Jules Janssen, 92195 Meudon, France
| | - Jean-Loup Bertaux
- LATMOS, CNRS/UVSQ/IPSL, 11 boulevard d'Alembert, 78280 Guyancourt, France
| | - Ivano Bertini
- Centro di Ateneo di Studi ed Attività Spaziali "Giuseppe Colombo" (CISAS), University of Padova, via Venezia 15, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Claire Capanna
- Laboratoire d'Astrophysique de Marseille, UMR 7326, CNRS and Aix Marseille Université, 13388 Marseille Cedex 13, France
| | - Gabriele Cremonese
- INAF, Osservatorio Astronomico di Padova, Vicolo dell'Osservatorio 5, 35122 Padova, Italy
| | - Vania Da Deppo
- CNR-IFN UOS Padova LUXOR, via Trasea 7, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Björn Davidsson
- Centro de Astrobiologia, CSIC-INTA, 28850 Torrejon de Ardoz, Madrid, Spain
| | - Stefano Debei
- Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Padova, via Venezia 1, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | | | | | - Francesca Ferri
- Centro di Ateneo di Studi ed Attività Spaziali "Giuseppe Colombo" (CISAS), University of Padova, via Venezia 15, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Sonia Fornasier
- LESIA-Observatoire de Paris, CNRS, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Universite Paris Diderot, 5 place Jules Janssen, 92195 Meudon, France
| | - Marco Fulle
- INAF Osservatorio Astronomico, via Tiepolo 11, 34014 Trieste, Italy
| | | | - Lorenza Giacomini
- Centro di Ateneo di Studi ed Attività Spaziali "Giuseppe Colombo" (CISAS), University of Padova, via Venezia 15, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Olivier Groussin
- Laboratoire d'Astrophysique de Marseille, UMR 7326, CNRS and Aix Marseille Université, 13388 Marseille Cedex 13, France
| | | | - P Gutierrez-Marques
- Max-Planck-Institut für Sonnensystemforschung, Justus-von-Liebig-Weg 3, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Pedro J Gutiérrez
- Instituto de Astrofisica de Andalucia (CSIC), Glorieta de la Astronomìa s/n, 18008 Granada, Spain
| | - Carsten Güttler
- Max-Planck-Institut für Sonnensystemforschung, Justus-von-Liebig-Weg 3, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Nick Hoekzema
- Max-Planck-Institut für Sonnensystemforschung, Justus-von-Liebig-Weg 3, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Sebastian Höfner
- Max-Planck-Institut für Sonnensystemforschung, Justus-von-Liebig-Weg 3, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Stubbe F Hviid
- Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt (DLR), Institut für Planetenforschung, Rutherfordstraße 2, 12489 Berlin, Germany
| | - Wing-Huen Ip
- National Central University, Graduate Institute of Astronomy, 300 Chung-Da Rd, Chung-Li 32054, Taiwan
| | - Laurent Jorda
- Laboratoire d'Astrophysique de Marseille, UMR 7326, CNRS and Aix Marseille Université, 13388 Marseille Cedex 13, France
| | - Jörg Knollenberg
- Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt (DLR), Institut für Planetenforschung, Rutherfordstraße 2, 12489 Berlin, Germany
| | - Gabor Kovacs
- Max-Planck-Institut für Sonnensystemforschung, Justus-von-Liebig-Weg 3, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Rainer Kramm
- Max-Planck-Institut für Sonnensystemforschung, Justus-von-Liebig-Weg 3, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Ekkehard Kührt
- Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt (DLR), Institut für Planetenforschung, Rutherfordstraße 2, 12489 Berlin, Germany
| | - Michael Küppers
- Operations Department, European Space Astronomy Centre/ESA, PO Box 78, 28691 Villanueva de la Canada, Madrid, Spain
| | - Fiorangela La Forgia
- University of Padova, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Vicolo dell'Osservatorio 3, 35122 Padova, Italy
| | - Luisa M Lara
- Instituto de Astrofisica de Andalucia (CSIC), Glorieta de la Astronomìa s/n, 18008 Granada, Spain
| | - Monica Lazzarin
- University of Padova, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Vicolo dell'Osservatorio 3, 35122 Padova, Italy
| | - Vicky Lee
- National Central University, Graduate Institute of Astronomy, 300 Chung-Da Rd, Chung-Li 32054, Taiwan
| | - Cédric Leyrat
- LESIA-Observatoire de Paris, CNRS, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Universite Paris Diderot, 5 place Jules Janssen, 92195 Meudon, France
| | - Zhong-Yi Lin
- National Central University, Graduate Institute of Astronomy, 300 Chung-Da Rd, Chung-Li 32054, Taiwan
| | - Josè J Lopez Moreno
- Instituto de Astrofisica de Andalucia (CSIC), Glorieta de la Astronomìa s/n, 18008 Granada, Spain
| | - Stephen Lowry
- The University of Kent, School of Physical Sciences, Canterbury, Kent CT2 7NZ, UK
| | - Sara Magrin
- University of Padova, Deptartment of Physics and Astronomy, via Marzolo 8, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Lucie Maquet
- Operations Department, European Space Astronomy Centre/ESA, PO Box 78, 28691 Villanueva de la Canada, Madrid, Spain
| | - Simone Marchi
- Solar System Exploration Research Virtual Institute, Southwest Research Institute, 1050 Walnut Street, Suite 300, Boulder, Colorado 80302, USA
| | - Francesco Marzari
- University of Padova, Deptartment of Physics and Astronomy, via Marzolo 8, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Matteo Massironi
- Dipartimento di Geoscienze, University of Padova, via Giovanni Gradenigo 6, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Harald Michalik
- Institut für Datentechnik und Kommunikationsnetze der Technische Universität Braunschweig, Hans-Sommer-Straße 66, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Richard Moissl
- Operations Department, European Space Astronomy Centre/ESA, PO Box 78, 28691 Villanueva de la Canada, Madrid, Spain
| | - Stefano Mottola
- Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt (DLR), Institut für Planetenforschung, Rutherfordstraße 2, 12489 Berlin, Germany
| | - Giampiero Naletto
- 1] Centro di Ateneo di Studi ed Attività Spaziali "Giuseppe Colombo" (CISAS), University of Padova, via Venezia 15, 35131 Padova, Italy [2] CNR-IFN UOS Padova LUXOR, via Trasea 7, 35131 Padova, Italy [3] University of Padova, Department of Information Engineering, via Gradenigo 6/B, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Nilda Oklay
- Max-Planck-Institut für Sonnensystemforschung, Justus-von-Liebig-Weg 3, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Maurizio Pajola
- Centro di Ateneo di Studi ed Attività Spaziali "Giuseppe Colombo" (CISAS), University of Padova, via Venezia 15, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Frank Preusker
- Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt (DLR), Institut für Planetenforschung, Rutherfordstraße 2, 12489 Berlin, Germany
| | - Frank Scholten
- Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt (DLR), Institut für Planetenforschung, Rutherfordstraße 2, 12489 Berlin, Germany
| | - Nicolas Thomas
- Physikalisches Institut der Universität Bern, Sidlerstraße 5, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Imre Toth
- Konkoly Observatory of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, PO Box 67, 1525 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Cecilia Tubiana
- Max-Planck-Institut für Sonnensystemforschung, Justus-von-Liebig-Weg 3, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
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7
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Sierks H, Barbieri C, Lamy PL, Rodrigo R, Koschny D, Rickman H, Keller HU, Agarwal J, A'Hearn MF, Angrilli F, Auger AT, Barucci MA, Bertaux JL, Bertini I, Besse S, Bodewits D, Capanna C, Cremonese G, Da Deppo V, Davidsson B, Debei S, De Cecco M, Ferri F, Fornasier S, Fulle M, Gaskell R, Giacomini L, Groussin O, Gutierrez-Marques P, Gutiérrez PJ, Güttler C, Hoekzema N, Hviid SF, Ip WH, Jorda L, Knollenberg J, Kovacs G, Kramm JR, Kührt E, Küppers M, La Forgia F, Lara LM, Lazzarin M, Leyrat C, Lopez Moreno JJ, Magrin S, Marchi S, Marzari F, Massironi M, Michalik H, Moissl R, Mottola S, Naletto G, Oklay N, Pajola M, Pertile M, Preusker F, Sabau L, Scholten F, Snodgrass C, Thomas N, Tubiana C, Vincent JB, Wenzel KP, Zaccariotto M, Pätzold M. Cometary science. On the nucleus structure and activity of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. Science 2015; 347:aaa1044. [PMID: 25613897 DOI: 10.1126/science.aaa1044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 332] [Impact Index Per Article: 36.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Images from the OSIRIS scientific imaging system onboard Rosetta show that the nucleus of 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko consists of two lobes connected by a short neck. The nucleus has a bulk density less than half that of water. Activity at a distance from the Sun of >3 astronomical units is predominantly from the neck, where jets have been seen consistently. The nucleus rotates about the principal axis of momentum. The surface morphology suggests that the removal of larger volumes of material, possibly via explosive release of subsurface pressure or via creation of overhangs by sublimation, may be a major mass loss process. The shape raises the question of whether the two lobes represent a contact binary formed 4.5 billion years ago, or a single body where a gap has evolved via mass loss.
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Affiliation(s)
- Holger Sierks
- Max-Planck-Institut für Sonnensystemforschung, 37077 Göttingen, Germany.
| | - Cesare Barbieri
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Padova, 35122 Padova, Italy
| | - Philippe L Lamy
- Laboratoire d'Astrophysique de Marseille, UMR 7326, CNRS & Aix Marseille Université, 13388 Marseille Cedex 13, France
| | - Rafael Rodrigo
- Centro de Astrobiologia, CSIC-INTA,28850 Madrid, Spain. International Space Science Institute, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Detlef Koschny
- Scientific Support Office, European Space Research and Technology Centre/ESA, 2201 AZ Noordwijk ZH, Netherlands
| | - Hans Rickman
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Uppsala University, 75120 Uppsala, Sweden. PAS Space Research Center, 00716 Warszawa, Poland
| | - Horst Uwe Keller
- Institut für Geophysik und extraterrestrische Physik, Technische Universität Braunschweig, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany. Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt, Institut für Planetenforschung, 12489 Berlin, Germany
| | - Jessica Agarwal
- Max-Planck-Institut für Sonnensystemforschung, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Michael F A'Hearn
- Max-Planck-Institut für Sonnensystemforschung, 37077 Göttingen, Germany. Department of Astronomy, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA. Akademie der Wissenschaften zu Göttingen, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Francesco Angrilli
- Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Anne-Therese Auger
- Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, Laboratoire d'Astrophysique de Marseille, UMR 7326, 13388 Marseille, France
| | - M Antonella Barucci
- LESIA-Observatoire de Paris, CNRS, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Université Paris Diderot, 92195 Meudon, France
| | | | - Ivano Bertini
- Centro di Ateneo di Studi ed Attività Spaziali "Giuseppe Colombo" (CISAS), University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Sebastien Besse
- Scientific Support Office, European Space Research and Technology Centre/ESA, 2201 AZ Noordwijk ZH, Netherlands
| | - Dennis Bodewits
- Department of Astronomy, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - Claire Capanna
- Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, Laboratoire d'Astrophysique de Marseille, UMR 7326, 13388 Marseille, France
| | | | | | - Björn Davidsson
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Uppsala University, 75120 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Stefano Debei
- Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | | | - Francesca Ferri
- Centro di Ateneo di Studi ed Attività Spaziali "Giuseppe Colombo" (CISAS), University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Sonia Fornasier
- LESIA-Observatoire de Paris, CNRS, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Université Paris Diderot, 92195 Meudon, France
| | - Marco Fulle
- INAF - Osservatorio Astronomico di Trieste, 34014 Trieste, Italy
| | | | - Lorenza Giacomini
- Centro di Ateneo di Studi ed Attività Spaziali "Giuseppe Colombo" (CISAS), University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Olivier Groussin
- Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, Laboratoire d'Astrophysique de Marseille, UMR 7326, 13388 Marseille, France
| | | | - Pedro J Gutiérrez
- Instituto de Astrofisica de Andalucia (CSIC), c/ Glorieta de la AstronomÌa s/n, 18008 Granada, Spain
| | - Carsten Güttler
- Max-Planck-Institut für Sonnensystemforschung, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Nick Hoekzema
- Max-Planck-Institut für Sonnensystemforschung, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Stubbe F Hviid
- Max-Planck-Institut für Sonnensystemforschung, 37077 Göttingen, Germany. Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt, Institut für Planetenforschung, 12489 Berlin, Germany
| | - Wing-Huen Ip
- Graduate Institute of Astronomy, National Central University, Chung-Li 32054, Taiwan. Space Science Institute, Macau University of Science and Technology, Macao, China
| | - Laurent Jorda
- Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, Laboratoire d'Astrophysique de Marseille, UMR 7326, 13388 Marseille, France
| | - Jörg Knollenberg
- Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt, Institut für Planetenforschung, 12489 Berlin, Germany
| | - Gabor Kovacs
- Max-Planck-Institut für Sonnensystemforschung, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - J Rainer Kramm
- Max-Planck-Institut für Sonnensystemforschung, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Ekkehard Kührt
- Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt, Institut für Planetenforschung, 12489 Berlin, Germany
| | - Michael Küppers
- Operations Department, European Space Astronomy Centre/ESA, 28691 Villanueva de la Canada, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Luisa M Lara
- Instituto de Astrofisica de Andalucia (CSIC), c/ Glorieta de la AstronomÌa s/n, 18008 Granada, Spain
| | - Monica Lazzarin
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Padova, 35122 Padova, Italy
| | - Cédric Leyrat
- LESIA-Observatoire de Paris, CNRS, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Université Paris Diderot, 92195 Meudon, France
| | - Josè J Lopez Moreno
- Instituto de Astrofisica de Andalucia (CSIC), c/ Glorieta de la AstronomÌa s/n, 18008 Granada, Spain
| | - Sara Magrin
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Padova, 35122 Padova, Italy
| | - Simone Marchi
- Solar System Exploration Research, Virtual Institute, Southwest Research Institute, Boulder, CO 80302, USA
| | - Francesco Marzari
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Padova, 35122 Padova, Italy
| | - Matteo Massironi
- Centro di Ateneo di Studi ed Attività Spaziali "Giuseppe Colombo" (CISAS), University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy. Dipartimento di Geoscienze, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Harald Michalik
- Institut für Datentechnik und Kommunikationsnetze der TU Braunschweig, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Richard Moissl
- Operations Department, European Space Astronomy Centre/ESA, 28691 Villanueva de la Canada, Madrid, Spain
| | - Stefano Mottola
- Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt, Institut für Planetenforschung, 12489 Berlin, Germany
| | - Giampiero Naletto
- Centro di Ateneo di Studi ed Attività Spaziali "Giuseppe Colombo" (CISAS), University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy. CNR-IFN UOS Padova LUXOR, 35131 Padova, Italy. Department of Information Engineering, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Nilda Oklay
- Max-Planck-Institut für Sonnensystemforschung, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Maurizio Pajola
- Centro di Ateneo di Studi ed Attività Spaziali "Giuseppe Colombo" (CISAS), University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Marco Pertile
- Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy. Centro di Ateneo di Studi ed Attività Spaziali "Giuseppe Colombo" (CISAS), University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Frank Preusker
- Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt, Institut für Planetenforschung, 12489 Berlin, Germany
| | - Lola Sabau
- Instituto Nacional de Tecnica Aeroespacial, 28850 Torrejon de Ardoz, Madrid, Spain
| | - Frank Scholten
- Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt, Institut für Planetenforschung, 12489 Berlin, Germany
| | - Colin Snodgrass
- Max-Planck-Institut für Sonnensystemforschung, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Nicolas Thomas
- Physikalisches Institut, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland. Center for Space and Habitability, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Cecilia Tubiana
- Max-Planck-Institut für Sonnensystemforschung, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | | | - Klaus-Peter Wenzel
- Scientific Support Office, European Space Research and Technology Centre/ESA, 2201 AZ Noordwijk ZH, Netherlands
| | - Mirco Zaccariotto
- Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy. Centro di Ateneo di Studi ed Attività Spaziali "Giuseppe Colombo" (CISAS), University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Martin Pätzold
- Rheinisches Institut für Umweltforschung, Abteilung Planetenforschung, Universität zu Köln, 50931 Köln, Germany
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8
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Thomas N, Sierks H, Barbieri C, Lamy PL, Rodrigo R, Rickman H, Koschny D, Keller HU, Agarwal J, A'Hearn MF, Angrilli F, Auger AT, Barucci MA, Bertaux JL, Bertini I, Besse S, Bodewits D, Cremonese G, Da Deppo V, Davidsson B, De Cecco M, Debei S, El-Maarry MR, Ferri F, Fornasier S, Fulle M, Giacomini L, Groussin O, Gutierrez PJ, Güttler C, Hviid SF, Ip WH, Jorda L, Knollenberg J, Kramm JR, Kührt E, Küppers M, La Forgia F, Lara LM, Lazzarin M, Lopez Moreno JJ, Magrin S, Marchi S, Marzari F, Massironi M, Michalik H, Moissl R, Mottola S, Naletto G, Oklay N, Pajola M, Pommerol A, Preusker F, Sabau L, Scholten F, Snodgrass C, Tubiana C, Vincent JB, Wenzel KP. Cometary science. The morphological diversity of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. Science 2015; 347:aaa0440. [PMID: 25613893 DOI: 10.1126/science.aaa0440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 238] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Images of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko acquired by the OSIRIS (Optical, Spectroscopic and Infrared Remote Imaging System) imaging system onboard the European Space Agency's Rosetta spacecraft at scales of better than 0.8 meter per pixel show a wide variety of different structures and textures. The data show the importance of airfall, surface dust transport, mass wasting, and insolation weathering for cometary surface evolution, and they offer some support for subsurface fluidization models and mass loss through the ejection of large chunks of material.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas Thomas
- Physikalisches Institut, Sidlerstrasse 5, University of Bern, 3012, Bern, Switzerland.
| | - Holger Sierks
- Max-Planck-Institut für Sonnensystemforschung, Justus-von-Liebig-Weg, 3, 37077, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Cesare Barbieri
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Padova, Vicolo dell'Osservatorio 3, 35122 Padova, Italy
| | - Philippe L Lamy
- Laboratoire d'Astrophysique de Marseille, UMR 7326, CNRS, and Aix Marseille Université, 38 Rue Frédéric Joliot-Curie, 13388 Marseille Cedex 13, France
| | - Rafael Rodrigo
- International Space Science Institute, Hallerstraße 6, 3012 Bern, Switzerland, and Centro de Astrobiología, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas - Instituto Nacional de Tecnica Aeroespacial, 28850 Torrejón de Ardoz, Madrid, Spain
| | - Hans Rickman
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Uppsala University, Box 516, SE-75120 Uppsala, Sweden, and Polish Academy of Sciences Space Research Center, Bartycka 18A, PL-00716 Warszawa, Poland
| | - Detlef Koschny
- Scientific Support Office, European Space Agency, 2201, Noordwijk, Netherlands
| | - Horst Uwe Keller
- Institute for Geophysics and Extraterrestrial Physics, Technische Universität Braunschweig, 38106, Braunschweig, Germany. Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt (DLR), Institut für Planetenforschung, Asteroiden und Kometen, Rutherfordstraße 2, 12489 Berlin, Germany
| | - Jessica Agarwal
- Max-Planck-Institut für Sonnensystemforschung, Justus-von-Liebig-Weg, 3, 37077, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Michael F A'Hearn
- Department of Astronomy, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742-2421, USA
| | - Francesco Angrilli
- Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Padova, via Venezia 1, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Anne-Therese Auger
- Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, Laboratoire d'Astrophysique de Marseille, UMR 7326, 38 rue Frédéric Joliot-Curie, 13388 Marseille, France
| | - M Antonella Barucci
- Laboratoire d'Etudes Spatiales et d'Instrumentation en Astrophysique, Observatoire de Paris, CNRS, Université Paris 06, Université Paris-Diderot, 5 Place J. Janssen, 92195, Meudon, France
| | - Jean-Loup Bertaux
- Laboratoire Atmosphères, Milieux, Observations Spatiales, CNRS/UVSQ/IPSL, 11 Boulevard d'Alembert, 78280, Guyancourt, France
| | - Ivano Bertini
- Centro di Ateneo di Studi ed Attivitá Spaziali, "Giuseppe Colombo" (CISAS), University of Padova, Via Venezia 15, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Sebastien Besse
- Scientific Support Office, European Space Agency, 2201, Noordwijk, Netherlands
| | - Dennis Bodewits
- Department of Astronomy, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742-2421, USA
| | - Gabriele Cremonese
- Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica, Osservatorio Astronomico di Padova, Vicolo dell'Osservatorio 5, 35122 Padova, Italy
| | - Vania Da Deppo
- CNR-IFN UOS Padova LUXOR, Via Trasea, 7, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Björn Davidsson
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Uppsala University, 75120 Uppsala, Sweden
| | | | - Stefano Debei
- Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Padova, via Venezia 1, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | | | - Francesca Ferri
- Centro di Ateneo di Studi ed Attivitá Spaziali, "Giuseppe Colombo" (CISAS), University of Padova, Via Venezia 15, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Sonia Fornasier
- Laboratoire d'Etudes Spatiales et d'Instrumentation en Astrophysique, Observatoire de Paris, CNRS, Université Paris 06, Université Paris-Diderot, 5 Place J. Janssen, 92195, Meudon, France
| | - Marco Fulle
- INAF, Osservatorio Astronomico, Via Tiepolo 11, 34014 Trieste, Italy
| | - Lorenza Giacomini
- Dipartimento di Geoscienze, University of Padova, via G. Gradenigo 6, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Olivier Groussin
- Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, Laboratoire d'Astrophysique de Marseille, UMR 7326, 38 rue Frédéric Joliot-Curie, 13388 Marseille, France
| | - Pedro J Gutierrez
- Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía (CSIC), c/ Glorieta de la Astronomía s/n, 18008 Granada, Spain
| | - Carsten Güttler
- Max-Planck-Institut für Sonnensystemforschung, Justus-von-Liebig-Weg, 3, 37077, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Stubbe F Hviid
- Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt (DLR), Institut für Planetenforschung, Asteroiden und Kometen, Rutherfordstraße 2, 12489 Berlin, Germany. Max-Planck-Institut für Sonnensystemforschung, Justus-von-Liebig-Weg, 3, 37077, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Wing-Huen Ip
- National Central University, Graduate Institute of Astronomy, 300 Chung-Da Road, Chung-Li 32054, Taiwan
| | - Laurent Jorda
- Laboratoire d'Astrophysique de Marseille, 38 Rue de Frédéric Joliot-Curie, 13388 Marseille Cedex 13, France
| | - Jörg Knollenberg
- Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt (DLR), Institut für Planetenforschung, Asteroiden und Kometen, Rutherfordstraße 2, 12489 Berlin, Germany
| | - J-Rainer Kramm
- Max-Planck-Institut für Sonnensystemforschung, Justus-von-Liebig-Weg, 3, 37077, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Ekkehard Kührt
- Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt (DLR), Institut für Planetenforschung, Asteroiden und Kometen, Rutherfordstraße 2, 12489 Berlin, Germany
| | - Michael Küppers
- Science Operations Department, European Space Astronomy Centre/European Space Agency, Post Office Box 78, 28691 Villanueva de la Canada, Madrid, Spain
| | - Fiorangela La Forgia
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Padova, Vicolo dell'Osservatorio 3, 35122 Padova, Italy
| | - Luisa M Lara
- Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía (CSIC), c/ Glorieta de la Astronomía s/n, 18008 Granada, Spain
| | - Monica Lazzarin
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Padova, Vicolo dell'Osservatorio 3, 35122 Padova, Italy
| | - Josè J Lopez Moreno
- Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía (CSIC), c/ Glorieta de la Astronomía s/n, 18008 Granada, Spain
| | - Sara Magrin
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Padova, Vicolo dell'Osservatorio 3, 35122 Padova, Italy
| | - Simone Marchi
- Solar System Exploration Research Virtual Institute, Southwest Research Institute, 1050 Walnut Street, Suite 300, Boulder, CO 80302, USA
| | - Francesco Marzari
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Padova, Vicolo dell'Osservatorio 3, 35122 Padova, Italy
| | - Matteo Massironi
- Dipartimento di Geoscienze, University of Padova, via G. Gradenigo 6, 35131 Padova, Italy. Centro di Ateneo di Studi ed Attivitá Spaziali, "Giuseppe Colombo" (CISAS), University of Padova, Via Venezia 15, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Harald Michalik
- Institut für Datentechnik und Kommunikationsnetze der Technische Universität Braunschweig, Hans-Sommer-Strasse 66, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Richard Moissl
- Science Operations Department, European Space Astronomy Centre/European Space Agency, Post Office Box 78, 28691 Villanueva de la Canada, Madrid, Spain
| | - Stefano Mottola
- Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt (DLR), Institut für Planetenforschung, Asteroiden und Kometen, Rutherfordstraße 2, 12489 Berlin, Germany
| | - Giampiero Naletto
- University of Padova, Department of Information Engineering, Via Gradenigo 6/B, 35131 Padova, Italy. CNR-IFN UOS Padova LUXOR, Via Trasea, 7, 35131 Padova, Italy. Centro di Ateneo di Studi ed Attivitá Spaziali, "Giuseppe Colombo" (CISAS), University of Padova, Via Venezia 15, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Nilda Oklay
- Max-Planck-Institut für Sonnensystemforschung, Justus-von-Liebig-Weg, 3, 37077, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Maurizio Pajola
- Centro di Ateneo di Studi ed Attivitá Spaziali, "Giuseppe Colombo" (CISAS), University of Padova, Via Venezia 15, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Antoine Pommerol
- Physikalisches Institut, Sidlerstrasse 5, University of Bern, 3012, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Frank Preusker
- Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt (DLR), Institut für Planetenforschung, Asteroiden und Kometen, Rutherfordstraße 2, 12489 Berlin, Germany
| | - Lola Sabau
- Instituto Nacional de Tecnica Aeroespacial, Carretera de Ajalvir, 28850 Torrejon de Ardoz (Madrid), Spain
| | - Frank Scholten
- Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt (DLR), Institut für Planetenforschung, Asteroiden und Kometen, Rutherfordstraße 2, 12489 Berlin, Germany
| | - Colin Snodgrass
- Planetary and Space Sciences, Department of Physical Sciences, The Open University, Milton Keynes MK7 6AA, UK. Max-Planck-Institut für Sonnensystemforschung, Justus-von-Liebig-Weg, 3, 37077, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Cecilia Tubiana
- Max-Planck-Institut für Sonnensystemforschung, Justus-von-Liebig-Weg, 3, 37077, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Jean-Baptiste Vincent
- Max-Planck-Institut für Sonnensystemforschung, Justus-von-Liebig-Weg, 3, 37077, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Klaus-Peter Wenzel
- Scientific Support Office, European Space Agency, 2201, Noordwijk, Netherlands
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9
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Rotundi A, Sierks H, Della Corte V, Fulle M, Gutierrez PJ, Lara L, Barbieri C, Lamy PL, Rodrigo R, Koschny D, Rickman H, Keller HU, López-Moreno JJ, Accolla M, Agarwal J, A'Hearn MF, Altobelli N, Angrilli F, Barucci MA, Bertaux JL, Bertini I, Bodewits D, Bussoletti E, Colangeli L, Cosi M, Cremonese G, Crifo JF, Da Deppo V, Davidsson B, Debei S, De Cecco M, Esposito F, Ferrari M, Fornasier S, Giovane F, Gustafson B, Green SF, Groussin O, Grün E, Güttler C, Herranz ML, Hviid SF, Ip W, Ivanovski S, Jerónimo JM, Jorda L, Knollenberg J, Kramm R, Kührt E, Küppers M, Lazzarin M, Leese MR, López-Jiménez AC, Lucarelli F, Lowry SC, Marzari F, Epifani EM, McDonnell JAM, Mennella V, Michalik H, Molina A, Morales R, Moreno F, Mottola S, Naletto G, Oklay N, Ortiz JL, Palomba E, Palumbo P, Perrin JM, Rodríguez J, Sabau L, Snodgrass C, Sordini R, Thomas N, Tubiana C, Vincent JB, Weissman P, Wenzel KP, Zakharov V, Zarnecki JC. Cometary science. Dust measurements in the coma of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko inbound to the Sun. Science 2015; 347:aaa3905. [PMID: 25613898 DOI: 10.1126/science.aaa3905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 291] [Impact Index Per Article: 32.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Critical measurements for understanding accretion and the dust/gas ratio in the solar nebula, where planets were forming 4.5 billion years ago, are being obtained by the GIADA (Grain Impact Analyser and Dust Accumulator) experiment on the European Space Agency's Rosetta spacecraft orbiting comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. Between 3.6 and 3.4 astronomical units inbound, GIADA and OSIRIS (Optical, Spectroscopic, and Infrared Remote Imaging System) detected 35 outflowing grains of mass 10(-10) to 10(-7) kilograms, and 48 grains of mass 10(-5) to 10(-2) kilograms, respectively. Combined with gas data from the MIRO (Microwave Instrument for the Rosetta Orbiter) and ROSINA (Rosetta Orbiter Spectrometer for Ion and Neutral Analysis) instruments, we find a dust/gas mass ratio of 4 ± 2 averaged over the sunlit nucleus surface. A cloud of larger grains also encircles the nucleus in bound orbits from the previous perihelion. The largest orbiting clumps are meter-sized, confirming the dust/gas ratio of 3 inferred at perihelion from models of dust comae and trails.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Rotundi
- Istituto di Astrofisica e Planetologia Spaziali, Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica (INAF), Via Fosso del Cavaliere, 100, 0133 Rome, Italy. Università degli Studi di Napoli "Parthenope," Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie, CDN IC4, 80143 Naples, Italy.
| | - Holger Sierks
- Max-Planck-Institut für Sonnensystemforschung, Justus-von-Liebig-Weg, 3, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Vincenzo Della Corte
- Istituto di Astrofisica e Planetologia Spaziali, Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica (INAF), Via Fosso del Cavaliere, 100, 0133 Rome, Italy
| | - Marco Fulle
- Osservatorio Astronomico, INAF, Via Tiepolo 11, 34143 Trieste, Italy
| | - Pedro J Gutierrez
- Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), P.O. Box 3008, 18080 Granada, Spain
| | - Luisa Lara
- Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), P.O. Box 3008, 18080 Granada, Spain
| | - Cesare Barbieri
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Padova University, Vicolo dell'Osservatorio 3, 35122 Padova, Italy
| | - Philippe L Lamy
- Laboratoire d'Astrophysique de Marseille, UMR 7326, CNRS and Aix-Marseille Université, 13388 Marseille, France
| | - Rafael Rodrigo
- Centro de Astrobiologia (Instituto Nacional de Tecnica Aerospacial-CSIC), 28691 Villanueva de la Canada, Madrid, Spain. International Space Science Institute, Hallerstrasse 6, CH-3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Detlef Koschny
- Scientific Support Office, European Space Agency, 2201 Noordwijk, Netherlands
| | - Hans Rickman
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Uppsala University, Box 516, 75120 Uppsala, Sweden. Polish Academy of Sciences Space Research Center, Bartycka 18A, PL-00716 Warszawa, Poland
| | - Horst Uwe Keller
- Institute for Geophysics and Extraterrestrial Physics, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Braunschweig 38106, Germany
| | - José J López-Moreno
- Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), P.O. Box 3008, 18080 Granada, Spain
| | - Mario Accolla
- Istituto di Astrofisica e Planetologia Spaziali, Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica (INAF), Via Fosso del Cavaliere, 100, 0133 Rome, Italy. Università degli Studi di Napoli "Parthenope," Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie, CDN IC4, 80143 Naples, Italy
| | - Jessica Agarwal
- Max-Planck-Institut für Sonnensystemforschung, Justus-von-Liebig-Weg, 3, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Michael F A'Hearn
- Department of Astronomy, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742-2421, USA
| | - Nicolas Altobelli
- European Space Agency (ESA)-European Space Astronomy Center (ESAC), Camino Bajo del Castillo, s/n, 28692 Villanueva de la Cañada, Madrid, Spagna
| | - Francesco Angrilli
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Padova, via Venezia 1, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - M Antonietta Barucci
- Laboratoire d'Etudes Spatiales et d'Instrumentation en Astrophysique, Observatoire de Paris, CNRS, Université Paris 06, Université Paris-Diderot, 5 place Johannes Janssen, 92195 Meudon, France
| | - Jean-Loup Bertaux
- Laboratoire Atmosphères, Milieux, Observations Spatiales, CNRS/Université de Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines/Institut Pierre-Simon Laplace, 11 boulevard d'Alembert, 78280 Guyancourt, France
| | - Ivano Bertini
- University of Padova, Centro Interdipartimentale di Studi e Attività Spaziali (CISAS), via Venezia 15, 35100 Padova, Italy
| | - Dennis Bodewits
- Department of Astronomy, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742-2421, USA
| | - Ezio Bussoletti
- Università degli Studi di Napoli "Parthenope," Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie, CDN IC4, 80143 Naples, Italy
| | - Luigi Colangeli
- ESA, European Space Research and Technology Centre (ESTEC), Keplerlaan 1, 2201 AZ Noordwijk, Netherlands
| | - Massimo Cosi
- Selex-ES, Via Albert Einstein, 35, 50013 Campi Bisenzio, Firenze, Italy
| | - Gabriele Cremonese
- Osservatorio Astronomico di Padova, INAF, Vicolo dell'Osservatorio 5, 35122 Padova, Italy
| | - Jean-Francois Crifo
- Laboratoire Atmosphères, Milieux, Observations Spatiales, CNRS/Université de Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines/Institut Pierre-Simon Laplace, 11 boulevard d'Alembert, 78280 Guyancourt, France
| | - Vania Da Deppo
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche-Istituto di Fotonica e Nanotecnologie-Unità Operativa di Supporto Padova LUXOR, via Trasea 7, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Björn Davidsson
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Uppsala University, Box 516, 75120 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Stefano Debei
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Padova, via Venezia 1, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | | | - Francesca Esposito
- Osservatorio Astronomico di Capodimonte, INAF, Salita Moiariello, 16, 80133 Naples, Italy
| | - Marco Ferrari
- Istituto di Astrofisica e Planetologia Spaziali, Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica (INAF), Via Fosso del Cavaliere, 100, 0133 Rome, Italy. Università degli Studi di Napoli "Parthenope," Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie, CDN IC4, 80143 Naples, Italy
| | - Sonia Fornasier
- Laboratoire d'Etudes Spatiales et d'Instrumentation en Astrophysique, Observatoire de Paris, CNRS, Université Paris 06, Université Paris-Diderot, 5 place Johannes Janssen, 92195 Meudon, France
| | - Frank Giovane
- Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
| | - Bo Gustafson
- University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Simon F Green
- Planetary and Space Sciences, Department of Physical Sciences, The Open University, Milton Keynes MK7 6AA, UK
| | - Olivier Groussin
- Laboratoire d'Astrophysique de Marseille, UMR 7326, CNRS and Aix-Marseille Université, 13388 Marseille, France
| | - Eberhard Grün
- Max-Planck-Institut fuer Kernphysik, Saupfercheckweg 1, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Carsten Güttler
- Max-Planck-Institut für Sonnensystemforschung, Justus-von-Liebig-Weg, 3, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Miguel L Herranz
- Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), P.O. Box 3008, 18080 Granada, Spain
| | - Stubbe F Hviid
- Institute of Planetary Research, Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt (DLR), Rutherfordstrasse 2, 12489 Berlin, Germany
| | - Wing Ip
- Institute for Space Science, National Central University, 300 Chung Da Road, 32054 Chung-Li, Taiwan
| | - Stavro Ivanovski
- Istituto di Astrofisica e Planetologia Spaziali, Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica (INAF), Via Fosso del Cavaliere, 100, 0133 Rome, Italy
| | - José M Jerónimo
- Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), P.O. Box 3008, 18080 Granada, Spain
| | - Laurent Jorda
- Laboratoire d'Astrophysique de Marseille, UMR 7326, CNRS and Aix-Marseille Université, 13388 Marseille, France
| | - Joerg Knollenberg
- Institute of Planetary Research, Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt (DLR), Rutherfordstrasse 2, 12489 Berlin, Germany
| | - Rainer Kramm
- Max-Planck-Institut für Sonnensystemforschung, Justus-von-Liebig-Weg, 3, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Ekkehard Kührt
- Institute of Planetary Research, Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt (DLR), Rutherfordstrasse 2, 12489 Berlin, Germany
| | - Michael Küppers
- European Space Agency (ESA)-European Space Astronomy Center (ESAC), Camino Bajo del Castillo, s/n, 28692 Villanueva de la Cañada, Madrid, Spagna
| | - Monica Lazzarin
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Padova University, Vicolo dell'Osservatorio 3, 35122 Padova, Italy
| | - Mark R Leese
- Planetary and Space Sciences, Department of Physical Sciences, The Open University, Milton Keynes MK7 6AA, UK
| | - Antonio C López-Jiménez
- Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), P.O. Box 3008, 18080 Granada, Spain
| | - Francesca Lucarelli
- Università degli Studi di Napoli "Parthenope," Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie, CDN IC4, 80143 Naples, Italy
| | - Stephen C Lowry
- The University of Kent, School of Physical Sciences, Canterbury, Kent CT2 7NZ, UK
| | | | - Elena Mazzotta Epifani
- Osservatorio Astronomico di Capodimonte, INAF, Salita Moiariello, 16, 80133 Naples, Italy
| | - J Anthony M McDonnell
- Planetary and Space Sciences, Department of Physical Sciences, The Open University, Milton Keynes MK7 6AA, UK. The University of Kent, School of Physical Sciences, Canterbury, Kent CT2 7NZ, UK. Unispacekent, Canterbury CT2 8EF, UK
| | - Vito Mennella
- Osservatorio Astronomico di Capodimonte, INAF, Salita Moiariello, 16, 80133 Naples, Italy
| | - Harald Michalik
- Institut für Datentechnik und Kommunikationsnetze, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Antonio Molina
- Departamento de Física Aplicada, Universidad de Granada, Facultad de Ciencias, Avenida Severo Ochoa, s/n, 18071 Granada, Spain
| | - Rafael Morales
- Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), P.O. Box 3008, 18080 Granada, Spain
| | - Fernando Moreno
- Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), P.O. Box 3008, 18080 Granada, Spain
| | - Stefano Mottola
- Institute of Planetary Research, Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt (DLR), Rutherfordstrasse 2, 12489 Berlin, Germany
| | - Giampiero Naletto
- Department of Information Engineering, Padova University, via Gradenigo 6, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Nilda Oklay
- Max-Planck-Institut für Sonnensystemforschung, Justus-von-Liebig-Weg, 3, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - José L Ortiz
- Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), P.O. Box 3008, 18080 Granada, Spain
| | - Ernesto Palomba
- Istituto di Astrofisica e Planetologia Spaziali, Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica (INAF), Via Fosso del Cavaliere, 100, 0133 Rome, Italy
| | - Pasquale Palumbo
- Istituto di Astrofisica e Planetologia Spaziali, Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica (INAF), Via Fosso del Cavaliere, 100, 0133 Rome, Italy. Università degli Studi di Napoli "Parthenope," Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie, CDN IC4, 80143 Naples, Italy
| | - Jean-Marie Perrin
- Laboratoire Atmosphères, Milieux, Observations Spatiales, CNRS/Université de Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines/Institut Pierre-Simon Laplace, 11 boulevard d'Alembert, 78280 Guyancourt, France. Observatoire de Haute Provence OSU Pythéas UMS 2244 CNRS-AMU, 04870 Saint Michel l'Observatoire, France
| | - Julio Rodríguez
- Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), P.O. Box 3008, 18080 Granada, Spain
| | - Lola Sabau
- Instituto Nacional de Tecnica Aeroespacial, Carretera de Ajalvir, p.k. 4, 28850 Torrejon de Ardoz, Madrid, Spain
| | - Colin Snodgrass
- Max-Planck-Institut für Sonnensystemforschung, Justus-von-Liebig-Weg, 3, 37077 Göttingen, Germany. Planetary and Space Sciences, Department of Physical Sciences, The Open University, Milton Keynes MK7 6AA, UK
| | - Roberto Sordini
- Istituto di Astrofisica e Planetologia Spaziali, Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica (INAF), Via Fosso del Cavaliere, 100, 0133 Rome, Italy
| | - Nicolas Thomas
- Physikalisches Institut, Sidlerstrasse 5, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Cecilia Tubiana
- Max-Planck-Institut für Sonnensystemforschung, Justus-von-Liebig-Weg, 3, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Jean-Baptiste Vincent
- Max-Planck-Institut für Sonnensystemforschung, Justus-von-Liebig-Weg, 3, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Paul Weissman
- Planetary Science Section, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, 4800 Oak Grove Drive, Pasadena, CA 91109, USA
| | - Klaus-Peter Wenzel
- Scientific Support Office, European Space Agency, 2201 Noordwijk, Netherlands
| | - Vladimir Zakharov
- Laboratoire d'Etudes Spatiales et d'Instrumentation en Astrophysique, Observatoire de Paris, CNRS, Université Paris 06, Université Paris-Diderot, 5 place Johannes Janssen, 92195 Meudon, France
| | - John C Zarnecki
- International Space Science Institute, Hallerstrasse 6, CH-3012 Bern, Switzerland. Planetary and Space Sciences, Department of Physical Sciences, The Open University, Milton Keynes MK7 6AA, UK
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Sierks H, Lamy P, Barbieri C, Koschny D, Rickman H, Rodrigo R, A'Hearn MF, Angrilli F, Barucci MA, Bertaux JL, Bertini I, Besse S, Carry B, Cremonese G, Da Deppo V, Davidsson B, Debei S, De Cecco M, De Leon J, Ferri F, Fornasier S, Fulle M, Hviid SF, Gaskell RW, Groussin O, Gutierrez P, Ip W, Jorda L, Kaasalainen M, Keller HU, Knollenberg J, Kramm R, Kührt E, Küppers M, Lara L, Lazzarin M, Leyrat C, Lopez Moreno JJ, Magrin S, Marchi S, Marzari F, Massironi M, Michalik H, Moissl R, Naletto G, Preusker F, Sabau L, Sabolo W, Scholten F, Snodgrass C, Thomas N, Tubiana C, Vernazza P, Vincent JB, Wenzel KP, Andert T, Pätzold M, Weiss BP. Images of asteroid 21 Lutetia: a remnant planetesimal from the early Solar System. Science 2011; 334:487-90. [PMID: 22034428 DOI: 10.1126/science.1207325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 152] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Images obtained by the Optical, Spectroscopic, and Infrared Remote Imaging System (OSIRIS) cameras onboard the Rosetta spacecraft reveal that asteroid 21 Lutetia has a complex geology and one of the highest asteroid densities measured so far, 3.4 ± 0.3 grams per cubic centimeter. The north pole region is covered by a thick layer of regolith, which is seen to flow in major landslides associated with albedo variation. Its geologically complex surface, ancient surface age, and high density suggest that Lutetia is most likely a primordial planetesimal. This contrasts with smaller asteroids visited by previous spacecraft, which are probably shattered bodies, fragments of larger parents, or reaccumulated rubble piles.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Sierks
- Max-Planck-Institut für Sonnensystemforschung, Max-Planck-Strasse 2, 37191 Katlenburg-Lindau, Germany.
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11
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A'Hearn MF, Belton MJS, Delamere WA, Feaga LM, Hampton D, Kissel J, Klaasen KP, McFadden LA, Meech KJ, Melosh HJ, Schultz PH, Sunshine JM, Thomas PC, Veverka J, Wellnitz DD, Yeomans DK, Besse S, Bodewits D, Bowling TJ, Carcich BT, Collins SM, Farnham TL, Groussin O, Hermalyn B, Kelley MS, Kelley MS, Li JY, Lindler DJ, Lisse CM, McLaughlin SA, Merlin F, Protopapa S, Richardson JE, Williams JL. EPOXI at Comet Hartley 2. Science 2011; 332:1396-400. [DOI: 10.1126/science.1204054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 351] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
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12
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Keller HU, Barbieri C, Koschny D, Lamy P, Rickman H, Rodrigo R, Sierks H, A’Hearn MF, Angrilli F, Barucci MA, Bertaux JL, Cremonese G, Da Deppo V, Davidsson B, De Cecco M, Debei S, Fornasier S, Fulle M, Groussin O, Gutierrez PJ, Hviid SF, Ip WH, Jorda L, Knollenberg J, Kramm JR, Kührt E, Küppers M, Lara LM, Lazzarin M, Moreno JL, Marzari F, Michalik H, Naletto G, Sabau L, Thomas N, Wenzel KP, Bertini I, Besse S, Ferri F, Kaasalainen M, Lowry S, Marchi S, Mottola S, Sabolo W, Schröder SE, Spjuth S, Vernazza P. E-Type Asteroid (2867) Steins as Imaged by OSIRIS on Board Rosetta. Science 2010; 327:190-3. [DOI: 10.1126/science.1179559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- H. U. Keller
- Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research, Katlenburg-Lindau, Germany
| | | | - D. Koschny
- European Space and Technology Centre, Noordwijk, Netherlands
| | - P. Lamy
- Laboratoire d'Astrophysique de Marseille, Université de Provence, Marseille, France
| | - H. Rickman
- Institute för Astronomi och Rymdfysik, Uppsala, Sweden
- Polish Academy of Sciences Space Research Center, Warsaw, Poland
| | - R. Rodrigo
- Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía–Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Granada, Spain
| | - H. Sierks
- Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research, Katlenburg-Lindau, Germany
| | | | | | | | - J.-L. Bertaux
- Services d’Aéronomie de CNRS, Verrières le Buisson, France
| | | | - V. Da Deppo
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche-Istituto Nazionale per la Fisica della Materia, Luxor, Padova, Italy
| | - B. Davidsson
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | | | - S. Debei
- University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | | | - M. Fulle
- International School for Advanced Studies, Trieste, Italy
| | - O. Groussin
- Laboratoire d'Astrophysique de Marseille, Université de Provence, Marseille, France
| | - P. J. Gutierrez
- Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía–Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Granada, Spain
| | - S. F. Hviid
- Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research, Katlenburg-Lindau, Germany
| | - W.-H. Ip
- National Central University, Jhongli City, Taiwan
| | - L. Jorda
- Laboratoire d'Astrophysique de Marseille, Université de Provence, Marseille, France
| | | | - J. R. Kramm
- Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research, Katlenburg-Lindau, Germany
| | - E. Kührt
- German Aerospace Center, Berlin, Germany
| | - M. Küppers
- European Space Astronomy Centre (ESAC), Madrid, Spain
| | - L.-M. Lara
- Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía–Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Granada, Spain
| | | | - J. Lopez Moreno
- Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía–Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Granada, Spain
| | | | - H. Michalik
- Institute of Computer and Network Engineering, Braunschweig, Germany
| | | | - L. Sabau
- Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aérospacial, Torrejon de Ardoz, Spain
| | - N. Thomas
- Physikalisches Institut der Universität Bern, Switzerland
| | - K.-P. Wenzel
- European Space and Technology Centre, Noordwijk, Netherlands
| | - I. Bertini
- Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía–Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Granada, Spain
| | - S. Besse
- Laboratoire d'Astrophysique de Marseille, Université de Provence, Marseille, France
| | - F. Ferri
- University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | | | - S. Lowry
- University of Kent, Canterbury, UK
| | | | - S. Mottola
- German Aerospace Center, Berlin, Germany
| | - W. Sabolo
- Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía–Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Granada, Spain
| | - S. E. Schröder
- Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research, Katlenburg-Lindau, Germany
| | - S. Spjuth
- Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research, Katlenburg-Lindau, Germany
| | - P. Vernazza
- European Space and Technology Centre, Noordwijk, Netherlands
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13
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Sunshine JM, Farnham TL, Feaga LM, Groussin O, Merlin F, Milliken RE, A'Hearn MF. Temporal and spatial variability of lunar hydration as observed by the Deep Impact spacecraft. Science 2009; 326:565-8. [PMID: 19779149 DOI: 10.1126/science.1179788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 296] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
The Moon is generally anhydrous, yet the Deep Impact spacecraft found the entire surface to be hydrated during some portions of the day. Hydroxyl (OH) and water (H2O) absorptions in the near infrared were strongest near the North Pole and are consistent with <0.5 weight percent H2O. Hydration varied with temperature, rather than cumulative solar radiation, but no inherent absorptivity differences with composition were observed. However, comparisons between data collected 1 week (a quarter lunar day) apart show a dynamic process with diurnal changes in hydration that were greater for mare basalts (approximately 70%) than for highlands (approximately 50%). This hydration loss and return to a steady state occurred entirely between local morning and evening, requiring a ready daytime source of water-group ions, which is consistent with a solar wind origin.
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14
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Klaasen KP, A'Hearn MF, Baca M, Delamere A, Desnoyer M, Farnham T, Groussin O, Hampton D, Ipatov S, Li J, Lisse C, Mastrodemos N, McLaughlin S, Sunshine J, Thomas P, Wellnitz D. Invited Article: Deep Impact instrument calibration. Rev Sci Instrum 2008; 79:091301. [PMID: 19044397 DOI: 10.1063/1.2972112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Calibration of NASA's Deep Impact spacecraft instruments allows reliable scientific interpretation of the images and spectra returned from comet Tempel 1. Calibrations of the four onboard remote sensing imaging instruments have been performed in the areas of geometric calibration, spatial resolution, spectral resolution, and radiometric response. Error sources such as noise (random, coherent, encoding, data compression), detector readout artifacts, scattered light, and radiation interactions have been quantified. The point spread functions (PSFs) of the medium resolution instrument and its twin impactor targeting sensor are near the theoretical minimum [ approximately 1.7 pixels full width at half maximum (FWHM)]. However, the high resolution instrument camera was found to be out of focus with a PSF FWHM of approximately 9 pixels. The charge coupled device (CCD) read noise is approximately 1 DN. Electrical cross-talk between the CCD detector quadrants is correctable to <2 DN. The IR spectrometer response nonlinearity is correctable to approximately 1%. Spectrometer read noise is approximately 2 DN. The variation in zero-exposure signal level with time and spectrometer temperature is not fully characterized; currently corrections are good to approximately 10 DN at best. Wavelength mapping onto the detector is known within 1 pixel; spectral lines have a FWHM of approximately 2 pixels. About 1% of the IR detector pixels behave badly and remain uncalibrated. The spectrometer exhibits a faint ghost image from reflection off a beamsplitter. Instrument absolute radiometric calibration accuracies were determined generally to <10% using star imaging. Flat-field calibration reduces pixel-to-pixel response differences to approximately 0.5% for the cameras and <2% for the spectrometer. A standard calibration image processing pipeline is used to produce archival image files for analysis by researchers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenneth P Klaasen
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Mail Stop 306-392, 4800 Oak Grove Dr., Pasadena, California 91109, USA.
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15
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Lisse CM, Vancleve J, Adams AC, A'hearn MF, Fernández YR, Farnham TL, Armus L, Grillmair CJ, Ingalls J, Belton MJS, Groussin O, McFadden LA, Meech KJ, Schultz PH, Clark BC, Feaga LM, Sunshine JM. Spitzer Spectral Observations of the Deep Impact Ejecta. Science 2006; 313:635-40. [PMID: 16840662 DOI: 10.1126/science.1124694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 260] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Spitzer Space Telescope imaging spectrometer observations of comet 9P/Tempel 1 during the Deep Impact encounter returned detailed, highly structured, 5- to 35-micrometer spectra of the ejecta. Emission signatures due to amorphous and crystalline silicates, amorphous carbon, carbonates, phyllosilicates, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, water gas and ice, and sulfides were found. Good agreement is seen between the ejecta spectra and the material emitted from comet C/1995 O1 (Hale-Bopp) and the circumstellar material around the young stellar object HD100546. The atomic abundance of the observed material is consistent with solar and C1 chondritic abundances, and the dust-to-gas ratio was determined to be greater than or equal to 1.3. The presence of the observed mix of materials requires efficient methods of annealing amorphous silicates and mixing of high- and low-temperature phases over large distances in the early protosolar nebula.
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Affiliation(s)
- C M Lisse
- Planetary Exploration Group, Space Department, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, 11100 Johns Hopkins Road, Laurel, MD 20723, USA
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16
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Sunshine JM, A'Hearn MF, Groussin O, Li JY, Belton MJS, Delamere WA, Kissel J, Klaasen KP, McFadden LA, Meech KJ, Melosh HJ, Schultz PH, Thomas PC, Veverka J, Yeomans DK, Busko IC, Desnoyer M, Farnham TL, Feaga LM, Hampton DL, Lindler DJ, Lisse CM, Wellnitz DD. Exposed Water Ice Deposits on the Surface of Comet 9P/Tempel 1. Science 2006; 311:1453-5. [PMID: 16456037 DOI: 10.1126/science.1123632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 210] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
We report the direct detection of solid water ice deposits exposed on the surface of comet 9P/Tempel 1, as observed by the Deep Impact mission. Three anomalously colored areas are shown to include water ice on the basis of their near-infrared spectra, which include diagnostic water ice absorptions at wavelengths of 1.5 and 2.0 micrometers. These absorptions are well modeled as a mixture of nearby non-ice regions and 3 to 6% water ice particles 10 to 50 micrometers in diameter. These particle sizes are larger than those ejected during the impact experiment, which suggests that the surface deposits are loose aggregates. The total area of exposed water ice is substantially less than that required to support the observed ambient outgassing from the comet, which likely has additional source regions below the surface.
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Affiliation(s)
- J M Sunshine
- Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), Chantilly, VA 20151, USA.
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17
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A'Hearn MF, Belton MJS, Delamere WA, Kissel J, Klaasen KP, McFadden LA, Meech KJ, Melosh HJ, Schultz PH, Sunshine JM, Thomas PC, Veverka J, Yeomans DK, Baca MW, Busko I, Crockett CJ, Collins SM, Desnoyer M, Eberhardy CA, Ernst CM, Farnham TL, Feaga L, Groussin O, Hampton D, Ipatov SI, Li JY, Lindler D, Lisse CM, Mastrodemos N, Owen WM, Richardson JE, Wellnitz DD, White RL. Deep Impact: Excavating Comet Tempel 1. Science 2005; 310:258-64. [PMID: 16150978 DOI: 10.1126/science.1118923] [Citation(s) in RCA: 640] [Impact Index Per Article: 33.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Deep Impact collided with comet Tempel 1, excavating a crater controlled by gravity. The comet's outer layer is composed of 1- to 100-micrometer fine particles with negligible strength (<65 pascals). Local gravitational field and average nucleus density (600 kilograms per cubic meter) are estimated from ejecta fallback. Initial ejecta were hot (>1000 kelvins). A large increase in organic material occurred during and after the event, with smaller changes in carbon dioxide relative to water. On approach, the spacecraft observed frequent natural outbursts, a mean radius of 3.0 +/- 0.1 kilometers, smooth and rough terrain, scarps, and impact craters. A thermal map indicates a surface in equilibrium with sunlight.
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Affiliation(s)
- M F A'Hearn
- University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA.
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18
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Meech KJ, Ageorges N, A'Hearn MF, Arpigny C, Ates A, Aycock J, Bagnulo S, Bailey J, Barber R, Barrera L, Barrena R, Bauer JM, Belton MJS, Bensch F, Bhattacharya B, Biver N, Blake G, Bockelée-Morvan D, Boehnhardt H, Bonev BP, Bonev T, Buie MW, Burton MG, Butner HM, Cabanac R, Campbell R, Campins H, Capria MT, Carroll T, Chaffee F, Charnley SB, Cleis R, Coates A, Cochran A, Colom P, Conrad A, Coulson IM, Crovisier J, deBuizer J, Dekany R, de Léon J, Dello Russo N, Delsanti A, DiSanti M, Drummond J, Dundon L, Etzel PB, Farnham TL, Feldman P, Fernández YR, Filipovic MD, Fisher S, Fitzsimmons A, Fong D, Fugate R, Fujiwara H, Fujiyoshi T, Furusho R, Fuse T, Gibb E, Groussin O, Gulkis S, Gurwell M, Hadamcik E, Hainaut O, Harker D, Harrington D, Harwit M, Hasegawa S, Hergenrother CW, Hirst P, Hodapp K, Honda M, Howell ES, Hutsemékers D, Iono D, Ip WH, Jackson W, Jehin E, Jiang ZJ, Jones GH, Jones PA, Kadono T, Kamath UW, Käufl HU, Kasuga T, Kawakita H, Kelley MS, Kerber F, Kidger M, Kinoshita D, Knight M, Lara L, Larson SM, Lederer S, Lee CF, Levasseur-Regourd AC, Li JY, Li QS, Licandro J, Lin ZY, Lisse CM, LoCurto G, Lovell AJ, Lowry SC, Lyke J, Lynch D, Ma J, Magee-Sauer K, Maheswar G, Manfroid J, Marco O, Martin P, Melnick G, Miller S, Miyata T, Moriarty-Schieven GH, Moskovitz N, Mueller BEA, Mumma MJ, Muneer S, Neufeld DA, Ootsubo T, Osip D, Pandea SK, Pantin E, Paterno-Mahler R, Patten B, Penprase BE, Peck A, Petitas G, Pinilla-Alonso N, Pittichova J, Pompei E, Prabhu TP, Qi C, Rao R, Rauer H, Reitsema H, Rodgers SD, Rodriguez P, Ruane R, Ruch G, Rujopakarn W, Sahu DK, Sako S, Sakon I, Samarasinha N, Sarkissian JM, Saviane I, Schirmer M, Schultz P, Schulz R, Seitzer P, Sekiguchi T, Selman F, Serra-Ricart M, Sharp R, Snell RL, Snodgrass C, Stallard T, Stecklein G, Sterken C, Stüwe JA, Sugita S, Sumner M, Suntzeff N, Swaters R, Takakuwa S, Takato N, Thomas-Osip J, Thompson E, Tokunaga AT, Tozzi GP, Tran H, Troy M, Trujillo C, Van Cleve J, Vasundhara R, Vazquez R, Vilas F, Villanueva G, von Braun K, Vora P, Wainscoat RJ, Walsh K, Watanabe J, Weaver HA, Weaver W, Weiler M, Weissman PR, Welsh WF, Wilner D, Wolk S, Womack M, Wooden D, Woodney LM, Woodward C, Wu ZY, Wu JH, Yamashita T, Yang B, Yang YB, Yokogawa S, Zook AC, Zauderer A, Zhao X, Zhou X, Zucconi JM. Deep Impact: observations from a worldwide Earth-based campaign. Science 2005; 310:265-9. [PMID: 16150977 DOI: 10.1126/science.1118978] [Citation(s) in RCA: 158] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
On 4 July 2005, many observatories around the world and in space observed the collision of Deep Impact with comet 9P/Tempel 1 or its aftermath. This was an unprecedented coordinated observational campaign. These data show that (i) there was new material after impact that was compositionally different from that seen before impact; (ii) the ratio of dust mass to gas mass in the ejecta was much larger than before impact; (iii) the new activity did not last more than a few days, and by 9 July the comet's behavior was indistinguishable from its pre-impact behavior; and (iv) there were interesting transient phenomena that may be correlated with cratering physics.
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Affiliation(s)
- K J Meech
- Institute for Astronomy, University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2680 Woodlawn Drive, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA
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