Abstract
The Deep Impact observations of low thermal inertia for comet 9P/Tempel 1 are of profound importance for the observations to be made by the Rosetta spacecraft at comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. While sub-surface sublimation is necessary to explain the observations, the depth at which this occurs is no more than 2–3 cm and possibly less. The low thermal conductivity when combined with local surface roughness (also observed with Deep Impact) implies that local variations in outgassing rates can be substantial. These variations are likely to be on scales smaller than the resolution limits of all experiments on the Rosetta orbiter. The observed physico-chemical inhomogeneity further suggests that the Rosetta lander will only provide a local snapshot of conditions in the nucleus layer.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
M.F. A’Hearn et al., Science 310, 258 (2005)
A.T. Basilevsky, H.U. Keller, Planet. Space Sci. 54, 808 (2006)
M.J.S. Belton et al., Icarus 187, 332 (2007)
D.T. Britt et al., Icarus 167, 45 (2004)
D.E. Brownlee et al., Science 304, 1764 (2004)
J. Clairemidi, G. Moreels, V.A. Krasnopolsky, Icarus 86, 115 (1990)
B. Dziak-Jankowska, J. Leliwa-Kopystyński, M.E. Królikowska, Earth, Moon, Planets 90, 35 (2002)
T.L. Farnham, N.H. Samarasinha, B.E.A. Mueller, M.M. Knight, Astron. J. 133, 2001 (2007)
O. Groussin et al., Icarus 187, 16 (2007)
F. Henry, D. Bockelée-Morvan, J. Crovisier, J. Wink, Earth, Moon, Planets 90, 57 (2002)
T.-M. Ho, N. Thomas, D.C. Boice, M. Combi, L.A. Soderblom, V. Tenishev, Planet. Space Sci. 55, 974 (2007)
W.F. Huebner, J. Benkhoff, M.T. Capria, A. Coradini, C. De Sanctis, R. Orosei, D. Prialnik, Heat and gas diffusion in comet nuclei. ISSI Scientific Report, SR-004, 2006, ISBN 1608-280X
A. Ivanova, L. Shulman, Earth, Moon, Planets 90, 249 (2002)
A.V. Ivanova, L.M. Shulman, Adv. Space Res. 38, 1932 (2006)
H.U. Keller et al., Space Sci. Rev. 26 (2007)
H.U. Keller, J. Knollenberg, W.J. Markiewicz, Planet. Space Sci. 42, 367 (1994)
H.U. Keller, W. Curdt, J.R. Kramm, N. Thomas, Images of the Nucleus of Comet Halley. ESA-SP 1127, vol. 1, 1996
Y. Kitamura, Icarus 66, 241 (1986)
Y. Kitamura, Icarus 72, 555 (1987)
J. Knollenberg, Ph.D. Thesis. Univ. Göttingen, 1994
K.J. Kossacki, W.J. Markiewicz, M.D. Smith, Planet. Space Sci. 51, 569 (2003)
K.J. Kossacki, J. Leliwa-Kopystyński, S. Szutowicz, Icarus 184, 221 (2006)
R.L. Millis, D.G. Schleicher, Nature 324, 646 (1986)
R.M. Nelson, L.A. Soderblom, B.W. Hapke, Icarus 167, 37 (2004)
R. Orosei, F. Capaccioni, M.T. Capria, A. Coradini, M.C.D. Sanctis, C. Federico, M. Salomone, J.-P. Huot, Planet. Space Sci. 47, 839 (1999)
A.V. Rodionov, L. Jorda, G.H. Jones, J.F. Crifo, F. Colas, J. Lecacheux, Icarus 136, 232 (1998)
R. Schulz, Icarus 96, 198 (1992)
L.A. Soderblom et al., Science 296, 1087 (2002)
J.R. Spencer, L.A. Lebofsky, M.V. Sykes, Icarus 78, 337 (1989)
J.M. Sunshine et al., Science 311, 1453 (2006)
P.C. Thomas et al., Icarus 187, 4 (2007)
R.V. Yelle, L.A. Soderblom, J.R. Jokipii, Icarus 167, 30 (2004)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2008 Springer Science+Business Media, BV
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Thomas, N., Alexander, C., Keller, H.U. (2008). Loss of the Surface Layers of Comet Nuclei. In: Balsiger, H., Altwegg, K., Huebner, W., Owen, T., Schulz, R. (eds) Origin and Early Evolution of Comet Nuclei. Space Sciences Series of ISSI, vol 28. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-85455-7_10
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-85455-7_10
Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY
Print ISBN: 978-0-387-85454-0
Online ISBN: 978-0-387-85455-7
eBook Packages: Physics and AstronomyPhysics and Astronomy (R0)