| 1. |
- Meech, K. J., et al.
(författare)
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EPOXI: Comet 103P/Hartley 2 Observations from a Worldwide Campaign
- 2011
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Ingår i: Astrophysical Journal Letters. - London : IOP. - 2041-8213 .- 2041-8205. ; 734:L1, s. 1-9
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Earth- and space-based observations provide synergistic information for space mission encounters by providing data over longer timescales, at different wavelengths and using techniques that are impossible with an in situ flyby. We report here such observations in support of the EPOXI spacecraft flyby of comet 103P/Hartley 2. The nucleus is small and dark, and exhibited a very rapidly changing rotation period. Prior to the onset of activity, the period was ~16.4?hr. Starting in 2010 August the period changed from 16.6?hr to near 19?hr in December. With respect to dust composition, most volatiles and carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios, the comet is similar to other Jupiter-family comets. What is unusual is the dominance of CO 2 -driven activity near perihelion, which likely persists out to aphelion. Near perihelion the comet nucleus was surrounded by a large halo of water-ice grains that contributed significantly to the total water production.
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| 2. |
- Kueppers, Michael, et al.
(författare)
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Triple F-a comet nucleus sample return mission
- 2009
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Ingår i: Experimental astronomy. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0922-6435 .- 1572-9508. ; 23:3, s. 809-847
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The Triple F (Fresh From the Fridge) mission, a Comet Nucleus Sample Return, has been proposed to ESA's Cosmic Vision program. A sample return from a comet enables us to reach the ultimate goal of cometary research. Since comets are the least processed bodies in the solar system, the proposal goes far beyond cometary science topics (like the explanation of cometary activity) and delivers invaluable information about the formation of the solar system and the interstellar molecular cloud from which it formed. The proposed mission would extract three sample cores of the upper 50 cm from three locations on a cometary nucleus and return them cooled to Earth for analysis in the laboratory. The simple mission concept with a touch-and-go sampling by a single spacecraft was proposed as an M-class mission in collaboration with the Russian space agency ROSCOSMOS.
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| 3. |
- Hartogh, P., et al.
(författare)
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HIFI observations of water in the atmosphere of comet C/2008 Q3 (Garradd)
- 2010
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Ingår i: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 518:Article Number: L150
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- High-resolution far-infrared and sub-millimetre spectroscopy of water lines is an important tool to understand the physical and chemical properties of cometary atmospheres. We present observations of several rotational ortho- and para-water transitions in comet C/2008 Q3 (Garradd) performed with HIFI on Herschel. These observations have provided the first detection of the 2(12)-1(01) (1669 GHz) ortho and 1(11)-0(00) (1113 GHz) para transitions of water in a cometary spectrum. In addition, the ground-state transition 1(10)-1(01) at 557 GHz is detected and mapped. By detecting several water lines quasi-simultaneously and mapping their emission we can constrain the excitation parameters in the coma. Synthetic line profiles are computed using excitation models which include excitation by collisions, solar infrared radiation, and radiation trapping. We obtain the gas kinetic temperature, constrain the electron density profile, and estimate the coma expansion velocity by analyzing the map and line shapes. We derive water production rates of 1.7-2.8 x 10(28) s(-1) over the range r(h) = 1.83-1.85 AU.
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| 4. |
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| 5. |
- Rickman, Hans, et al.
(författare)
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Cometary impact rates on the Moon and planets during the late heavy bombardment
- 2017
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Ingår i: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP SCIENCES S A. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 598
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Context. The Nice model predicts that the trans-planetary planetesimal disk made a large or even dominant contribution to the cratering in the inner solar system during the late heavy bombardment (LHB). In the presence of evidence that lunar craters and mare basins may be mainly of asteroidal origin, there is a dilemma of the missing comets that is not yet resolved. Aims. We aim to revisit the problem of cometary impact rates on the Moon and the terrestrial planets during the LHB with a flexible model, allowing us to study the influences of physical destruction of comets, the mass of the primordial disk, and the distribution of this mass over the entire size range. Methods. We performed a Monte Carlo study of the dynamics of the cometary LHB projectiles and derive the impact rates by calculating individual collision probabilities for a huge sample of projectile orbits. We used Minimum Orbit Intersection Distances (MOIDs) according to a new scheme introduced here. Different calculations were performed using different models for the physical evolution of comet nuclei and for the properties of the primordial, trans-planetary disk. Results. Based on the capture probability of Jupiter Trojans, we find a best fit radius of the largest LHB comet impacting the Moon for a low-mass primordial disk. For this disk mass, the LHB cratering of the Moon, Mercury and Mars were dominated by asteroids. However, some smaller lunar maria were likely preceded by comet impacts. The volatile delivery to the Earth and Mars by LHB comets was much less than their water inventories. Conclusions. There is no excessive cometary cratering, if the LHB was caused by a late planetary instability in the Nice Model. The Earth and Mars obtained their water very early in their histories. The Noachian water flows on Mars cannot be attributed to the arrival of LHB-related H2O or CO2.
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| 6. |
- Rickman, Hans, et al.
(författare)
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Secular orbital evolution of Jupiter family comets
- 2017
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Ingår i: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP SCIENCES S A. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 598
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Context. The issue of the long term dynamics of Jupiter family comets (JFCs) involves uncertain assumptions about the physical evolution and lifetimes of these comets. Contrary to what is often assumed, real effects of secular dynamics cannot be excluded and therefore merit investigation. Aims. We use a random sample of late heavy bombardment cometary projectiles to study the long-term dynamics of JFCs by a Monte Carlo approach. In a steady-state picture of the Jupiter family, we investigate the orbital distribution of JFCs, including rarely visited domains like retrograde orbits or orbits within the outer parts of the asteroid main belt. Methods. We integrate 100 000 objects over a maximum of 100 000 orbital revolutions including the Sun, a comet, and four giant planets. Considering the steady-state number of JFCs to be proportional to the total time spent in the respective orbital domain, we derive the capture rate based on observed JFCs with small perihelia and large nuclei. We consider a purely dynamical model and one where the nuclei are eroded by ice sublimation. Results. The JFC inclination distribution is incompatible with our erosional model. This may imply that a new type of comet evolution model is necessary. Considering that comets may live for a long time, we show that JFCs can evolve into retrograde orbits as well as asteroidal orbits in the outer main belt or Cybele regions. The steady-state capture rate into the Jupiter family is consistent with similar to 1 x 10(9) scattered disk objects with diameters D > 2 km. Conclusions. Our excited scattered disk makes it difficult to explain the JFC inclination distribution, unless the physical evolution of JFCs is more intricate than assumed in standard, erosional models. Independent of this, the population size of the Jupiter family is consistent with a relatively low-mass scattered disk.
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| 7. |
- Rickman, Hans, et al.
(författare)
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Water in the history of Mars : An assessment
- 2019
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Ingår i: Planetary and Space Science. - : Elsevier BV. - 0032-0633 .- 1873-5088. ; 166, s. 70-89
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This paper presents a review of recent literature concerning issues related to the origin of water in planet Mars and its role in the geologic evolution of that planet. The baseline case of our discussion is the Grand Tack model of planetary migration in the solar nebula and an early planetary orbital instability according to the Nice Model. This discussion also benefits from a comparison with the Earth's accretional history. Recent observations are used to check the results of planetary accretion models, leading to a new picture of the early history of water on planet Mars. The embryo forming the basis of the planet is found to have been very deficient in water. During the following period, predating the formation of the Earth's Moon, the accreted water may have been as high as ∼5 km Global Equivalent Layer (GEL) while the amount accreted at later times may have been as low as ∼10 m GEL according to recent studies. In particular, the trans-planetary source was insignificant, at whatever time it was active. The proposed resurfacing event creating the Borealis basin could have been important for the loss of a significant part of the early Martian water inventory.
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| 8. |
- Szutowicz, S., et al.
(författare)
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Non-gravitational motion of the Jupiter-family comet 81P/Wild 2 II. The active regions on the surface
- 2008
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Ingår i: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 490:1, s. 393-402
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Aims. The non-gravitational perturbations in the orbital motion of comet 81P/Wild 2 are investigated using a two-source model of outgassing. Methods. In the process of orbit improvement the nucleus orientation and the location of two active regions are found from numerical fitting of the non-gravitational acceleration model to positional observations of the comet. Two different approaches to the lag angle of the outgassing behind the subsolar meridian are considered, assuming this angle to be either constant or varying with heliocentric distance. Results. The derived spin axis orientation (I similar to 60 degrees, phi similar to 155 degrees) as well as the location of two active regions, the northern (beta = 84 degrees) and the southern one (beta = -42 degrees), agree with determinations based on different observations by other authors. Orbital linkages of two and three successive apparitions of 81P/Wild 2 indicate an evolution of the change in the orbital period, possible time variations of the spin axis of the comet and an increase of the source areas during the last five revolutions. The non-gravitational perturbations were also used to constrain the sizes of the two active areas as well as the mass and bulk density (similar to 400 kg m(-3)) of the comet nucleus. The modeled two-source water production curve is compared with the activity data represented by the observed water production curve and the brightness curve.
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