Rosetta’s comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko sheds its dusty mantle to reveal its icy nature

Fornasier, S.; Mottola, S.; Keller, H. U.; Barucci, M. A.; Davidsson, B.; Feller, C.; Deshapriya, J. D. P.; Sierks, H.; Barbieri, C.; Lamy, P. L.; Rodrigo, R.; Koschny, D.; Rickman, H.; A’Hearn, M.; Agarwal, J.; Bertaux, J.-L.; Bertini, I.; Besse, S.; Cremonese, G.; Da Deppo, V.; ... (2016). Rosetta’s comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko sheds its dusty mantle to reveal its icy nature. Science, 354(6319), pp. 1566-1570. American Association for the Advancement of Science 10.1126/science.aag2671

Text 1566.full (1).pdf - Published Version Restricted to registered users only Available under License Publisher holds Copyright. Download (1MB)

The Rosetta spacecraft has investigated comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko from large heliocentric distances to its perihelion passage and beyond. We trace the seasonal and diurnal evolution of the colors of the 67P nucleus, finding changes driven by sublimation and recondensation of water ice. The whole nucleus became relatively bluer near perihelion, as increasing activity removed the surface dust, implying that water ice is widespread underneath the surface. We identified large (1500 square meters) ice-rich patches appearing and then vanishing in about 10 days, indicating small-scale heterogeneities on the nucleus. Thin frosts sublimating in a few minutes are observed close to receding shadows, and rapid variations in color are seen on extended areas close to the terminator. These cyclic processes are widespread and lead to continuously, slightly varying surface properties.

Interest & Impact

Downloads

1 since deposited on 06 Jul 2017
0 in the past 12 months

Citations

5 Citations in Web of Science ®
6 Citations in Scopus

Search

in Google Scholar™

Services

Actions (login required)

Edit item

Actions (login required)

Edit item