Comet 67P/CG Nucleus Composition and Comparison to Other Comets

Filacchione, Gianrico; Groussin, Olivier; Herny, Clémence; Kappel, David; Mottola, Stefano; Oklay, Nilda; Pommerol, Antoine; Wright, Ian; Yoldi, Zurine; Ciarniello, Mauro; Moroz, Lyuba; Raponi, Andrea (2019). Comet 67P/CG Nucleus Composition and Comparison to Other Comets. Space science reviews, 215(1) Springer 10.1007/s11214-019-0580-3

[img]
Preview
Text
s11214-019-0580-3.pdf - Published Version
Available under License Publisher holds Copyright.

Download (13MB) | Preview

We review our current knowledge of comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko nucleus composition as inferred from measurements made by remote sensing and in-situ instruments aboard Rosetta orbiter and Philae lander. Spectrophotometric properties (albedos, color indexes and Hapke parameters) of 67P/CG derived by Rosetta are discussed in the context of other comets previously explored by space missions. Composed of an assemblage made of ices, organic materials and minerals, cometary nuclei exhibit very dark and red surfaces which can be described by means of spectrophotometric quantities and reproduced with laboratory measurements. The presence of surface water and carbon dioxide ices was found by Rosetta to occur at localized sites where the activity driven by solar input, gaseous condensation or exposure of pristine inner layers can maintain these species on the surface. Apart from these specific areas, 67P/CG’s surface appears remarkably uniform in composition with a predominance of organic materials and minerals. The organic compounds contain abundant hydroxyl group and a refractory macromolecular material bearing aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons. The mineral components are compatible with a mixture of silicates and fine-grained opaques, including Fe-sulfides, like troilite and pyrrhotite, and ammoniated salts. In the vicinity of the perihelion several active phenomena, including the erosion of surface layers, the localized activity in cliffs, fractures and pits, the collapse of overhangs and walls, the transfer and redeposition of dust, cause the evolution of the different regions of the nucleus by inducing color, composition and texture changes.

Item Type:

Journal Article (Review Article)

Division/Institute:

08 Faculty of Science > Physics Institute > Space Research and Planetary Sciences
08 Faculty of Science > Physics Institute
08 Faculty of Science > Physics Institute > NCCR PlanetS

UniBE Contributor:

Herny, Clémence Emilie Lucile, Pommerol, Antoine, Yoldi Martínez d. M., Zuriñe

Subjects:

500 Science > 520 Astronomy
600 Technology > 620 Engineering

ISSN:

0038-6308

Publisher:

Springer

Language:

English

Submitter:

Dora Ursula Zimmerer

Date Deposited:

04 Feb 2020 16:06

Last Modified:

16 Feb 2023 00:25

Publisher DOI:

10.1007/s11214-019-0580-3

BORIS DOI:

10.7892/boris.139308

URI:

https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/139308

Actions (login required)

Edit item Edit item
Provide Feedback