Dust mass loss during the recent outburst of comet C/2014 UN271 Bernardinelli–Bernstein

Abstract

ABSTRACT The paper presents the results of numerical simulations of the mass ejected during the outburst of comet C/2014 UN271 Bernardinelli–Bernstein in large heliocentric distances. Determining the value of the mass ejected is one of the key factors determining the amplitude of the cometary outburst. It was assumed in the considerations that the scattering of the incident sunlight takes place on dust aggregates and dust agglomerates. In both of these cases, the key parameter in the context of determining the value of the mass ejected is the fraction of the nucleus surface that was active during quiet sublimation and the outburst. It was determined that the value of the mass ejected that caused the outburst fluctuated in the range from 107 to 108 kg. Moreover, the outburst itself, by exposing a fragment of the nucleus, rejuvenates the surface, at least on the local scale. The calculations performed refer to the outburst of comet C/2014 UN271 Bernardinelli–Bernstein on September 9, 2021.