Time variability and heterogeneity in the coma of 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko
Résumé
Comets contain the best-preserved material from the very beginning of our planetary system. Their nuclei and comae composition reveal clues about physical and chemical conditions during the early Solar system when comets formed. ROSINA/DFMS (Rosetta Orbiter Spectrometer for Ion and Neutral Analysis / Double Focusing Mass Spectrometer) onboard the Rosetta spacecraft has measured the coma composition of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko (67P) with excellent time resolution and compositional detail. Measurements were made over many comet rotation periods and a wide range of latitudes. These measurements show large fluctuations in composition in a heterogeneous coma that has diurnal and possibly seasonal variations in the major outgassing species: H2O, CO, and CO2. These results indicate a complex coma-nucleus relationship where seasonal variations may be driven by temperature differences near the comet surface.
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Time variability and heterogeneity in the coma of 67P_aaa0276.pdf (1.71 Mo)
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