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Composition of comet Halley dust particles from Giotto observations

  • Comet Halley
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Abstract

Mass spectra of cometary dust particles measured by the PIA dust particle analyser aboard the Giotto spacecraft show some unexpected and striking features. First, small particles below 10−14 g are much more abundant than anticipated by models. Second, most of the particles are rich in light elements such as H, C, N and O, suggesting the validity of models that describe the cometary dust as including organic material. Third, the light elements specifically seem to have a low ratio of mass to volume. Three examples of original mass spectra showing typical compositions are given; these have been measured and are compared with a computer-simulated mass spectrum.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Max-Planck-Institut für Kernphysik, PO Box 103980, D-6900, Heidelberg, 1, FRG

    J. Kissel, K. Büchler, H. Fechtig, E. Grün, E. K. Jessberger & H. J. völk

  2. University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, 981 95, USA

    D. E. Brownlee

  3. Martin Marietta, Denver, Colorado, 80201, USA

    B. C. Clark

  4. Technical College, Munich, FRG

    K. Hornung & E. B. Igenbergs

  5. Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm, Munich, FRG

    H. Kuczera

  6. University of Kent, Canterbury, CT2 7NR, UK

    J. A. M. McDonnell

  7. MPI Extraterrestrial Physics, Garching, FRG

    G. M. Morfill

  8. Arheiliger Apotheke, Messeler Str. 24, Darmstadt, FRG

    F. R. Krueger

  9. University Bamberg, FRG

    J. Rahe

  10. ESTEC, Noordwijk, The Netherlands

    G. H. Schwehm

  11. Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, California, 91109, USA

    Z. Sekanina

  12. Dawn Laser Corporation, Santa Barbara, California, USA

    N. G. Utterback

  13. LBJ Space Center, Houston, Texas, 77058, USA

    H. A. Zook

Authors
  1. J. Kissel
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  2. D. E. Brownlee
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  3. K. Büchler
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  4. B. C. Clark
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  5. H. Fechtig
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  6. E. Grün
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  7. K. Hornung
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  8. E. B. Igenbergs
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  9. E. K. Jessberger
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  10. F. R. Krueger
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  11. H. Kuczera
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  12. J. A. M. McDonnell
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  13. G. M. Morfill
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  14. J. Rahe
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  15. G. H. Schwehm
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  16. Z. Sekanina
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  17. N. G. Utterback
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  18. H. J. völk
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  19. H. A. Zook
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Kissel, J., Brownlee, D., Büchler, K. et al. Composition of comet Halley dust particles from Giotto observations. Nature 321 (Suppl 6067), 336–337 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1038/321336a0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/321336a0

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