Search Publications
New insight into the formation of hexamethylenetetramine (HMT) in interstellar and cometary ice analogs
Vinogradoff, V.; Duvernay, F.; Danger, G. +2 more
Aims: We investigate the purely thermal formation of hexamethylenetetramine (HMT, C6H12N4) in interstellar ice analogs from non-photolysed ice and compare our results with those for the formation from photolysed ice.
Methods: We use Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy to follow residue formation from …
67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko activity evolution during its last perihelion before the Rosetta encounter
Lara, L. M.; Rodrigo, R.; Ip, W. -H. +1 more
Context. The comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko, target of the Rosetta Mission (ESA) was monitored from January to April 2009 during its last perihelion passage before the Rosetta spacecraft encounters the comet nucleus in May 2014. Photometric data were obtained only from January 25 to March 19, 2009 and they were used to monitor the comet gas and d…
Evolution of the dust coma in comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko before the 2009 perihelion
Vincent, J. -B.; Schulz, R.; Licandro, J. +5 more
Context. Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko is the main target of ESA's Rosetta mission and will be encountered in May 2014. Because the spacecraft will orbit the comet nucleus before and after release of the lander Philae, it is necessary to know the conditions in the coma.
Aims: We study the dust environment, including the dust production rate…
67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko at large heliocentric distance
Agarwal, J.; Tubiana, C.; Ortiz, J. L. +3 more
Aims: The Jupiter family comet (JFC) 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko (67P/C-G) is the target of ESA's ROSETTA mission. Observational campaigns and theoretical investigations were performed to characterise 67P/C-G in terms of nucleus properties (e.g. size, surface colours, rotational period), gas and dust production, and plasma environment in prepar…
Thermal properties of the asteroid (2867) Steins as observed by VIRTIS/Rosetta
Erard, S.; Drossart, P.; Capaccioni, F. +6 more
Context. To investigate thermal properties of the small asteroid (2867) Steins, we analyzed its surface thermal emission measured by the VIRTIS instrument during the Rosetta spacecraft (ESA) flyby that occurred in September 2008. VIRTIS performed the first thermal mapping of an asteroid surface.
Aims: We determine the thermal properties of di…
On the stability of clathrate hydrates in comets 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko and 46P/Wirtanen
Weaver, H. A.; Mousis, O.; Schmitt, B. +3 more
Context. For several years, Jupiter-family comets have been the targets of spacecraft missions whose aims are to determine the comets' composition, structure, and physical properties. The Rosetta mission is currently flying towards comet 67P/Churyumov Gerasimenko for a rendezvous in August 2014 and comet 46P/Wirtanen is considered for a rendezvous…
Photometric observations of asteroid 4 Vesta by the OSIRIS cameras onboard the Rosetta spacecraft
Sierks, H.; Mottola, S.; Barucci, M. A. +2 more
Aims: We report on new observations of asteroid 4 Vesta obtained on 1 May 2010 with the optical system OSIRIS onboard the ESA Rosetta mission. One lightcurve was taken at a phase angle (52°) larger than achievable from ground-based observations together with a spectrophotometric sequence covering the 260 to 990 nm wavelength range.
Metho…
The properties of asteroid (2867) Steins from Spitzer Space Telescope observations and OSIRIS shape reconstruction
Jorda, L.; Lamy, P.; Fornasier, S. +1 more
Aims: We report on the thermal properties and composition of asteroid (2867) Steins derived from an analysis of new Spitzer Space Telescope (SST) observations performed in March 2008, in addition to previously published SST observations performed in November 2005.
Methods: We consider the three-dimensional shape model and photometric pro…
Photometric and spectroscopic observations of asteroid (21) Lutetia three months before the Rosetta fly-by
Lara, L. M.; Lin, Z. -Y.; Duffard, R. +1 more
Context. On its journey to comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko, the International Rosetta Mission (ESA) was planned to fly-by two asteroids: (2867) Steins and (21) Lutetia. Although classified as an M-type asteroid because of its high albedo, its reflectance spectrum in the near and mid-infrared region, suggests a primitive composition, more typical o…