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Cometary Nuclei

  • Conference paper
Asteroids, Comets, Meteors 1993

Part of the book series: International Astronomical Union / Union Astronomique Internationale ((IAUS,volume 160))

Abstract

After a brief summary of current concepts on cometary nuclei, resulting from recent advances in observational techniques and laboratory experiments on cometary analogue materials, some of the outstanding problems facing theoretical modelling and interpretations of the new data is described. Emphasis is placed on the outgassing of species more volatile than water over the history of cometary nuclei, the structure of the nuclei in terms of porosity and tensile strength on a variety of different scales, and the volumetric importance and distribution of the refractory “dust” component. Near-surface interactions of dust grains and outflowing gas may be associated with the formation of large dust aggregates and mantling of the nuclei.

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  1. Astronomiska observatoriet, Box 515, S-75120, Uppsala, Sweden

    Hans Rickman

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  1. Hans Rickman
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dipartimento di Matematica, Università di Pisa, Italy

    A. Milani

  2. Osservatorio Astronomico di Torino, Pino Torinese, Italy

    M. Di Martino  & A. Cellino  & 

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Rickman, H. (1994). Cometary Nuclei. In: Milani, A., Di Martino, M., Cellino, A. (eds) Asteroids, Comets, Meteors 1993. International Astronomical Union / Union Astronomique Internationale, vol 160. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-1148-5_20

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-1148-5_20

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