Subsurface properties and early activity of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko-Reference-Cited by-同舟云学术

Subsurface properties and early activity of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko

Published:2015-01-23 Issue:6220 Volume:347 Page:
ISSN:0036-8075
Container-title:Science
language:en
Short-container-title:Science

Author:

Gulkis Samuel¹,Allen Mark¹,von Allmen Paul¹,Beaudin Gerard²,Biver Nicolas³,Bockelée-Morvan Dominique³,Choukroun Mathieu¹,Crovisier Jacques³,Davidsson Björn J. R.⁴,Encrenaz Pierre²,Encrenaz Therese³,Frerking Margaret¹,Hartogh Paul⁵,Hofstadter Mark¹,Ip Wing-Huen⁶,Janssen Michael¹,Jarchow Christopher⁵,Keihm Stephen¹,Lee Seungwon¹,Lellouch Emmanuel³,Leyrat Cedric³,Rezac Ladislav⁵,Schloerb F. Peter¹⁷,Spilker Thomas¹

Affiliation:

1. Jet Propulsion Laboratory/California Institute of Technology, 4800 Oak Grove Drive, Pasadena, CA 91109, USA.

2. LERMA, Observatoire de Paris, PSL Research University, UPMC Université Paris 06, CNRS, UMR8112, F-75014 Paris, France.

3. LESIA-Observatoire de Paris, CNRS, UPMC, Université Paris–Diderot, 5 place Jules Janssen, 92195 Meudon, France.

4. Department of Physics and Astronomy, Uppsala University, Box 516, SE-75120 Uppsala, Sweden.

5. Max-Planck-Institut für Sonnensystemforschung, Justus-von-Liebig-Weg 3, 37077 Göttingen, Germany.

6. National Central University, Jhongli, Taoyuan City 32001, Taiwan.

7. University of Massachusetts, 619 Lederle Graduate Research Tower, Amherst, MA 01003, USA.

Abstract

Heat transport and ice sublimation in comets are interrelated processes reflecting properties acquired at the time of formation and during subsequent evolution. The Microwave Instrument on the Rosetta Orbiter (MIRO) acquired maps of the subsurface temperature of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko, at 1.6 mm and 0.5 mm wavelengths, and spectra of water vapor. The total H 2 O production rate varied from 0.3 kg s –1 in early June 2014 to 1.2 kg s –1 in late August and showed periodic variations related to nucleus rotation and shape. Water outgassing was localized to the “neck” region of the comet. Subsurface temperatures showed seasonal and diurnal variations, which indicated that the submillimeter radiation originated at depths comparable to the diurnal thermal skin depth. A low thermal inertia (~10 to 50 J K –1 m –2 s –0.5 ), consistent with a thermally insulating powdered surface, is inferred.

Funder

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Jet Propulsion Laboratory

California Institute of Technology

Publisher

American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)

Subject

Multidisciplinary

Reference12 articles.

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