Search Publications

Thermal desorption of circumstellar and cometary ice analogs

Martín-Doménech, R.; Muñoz Caro, G. M.; Bueno, J. +1 more

Context. Thermal annealing of interstellar ices takes place in several stages of star formation. Knowledge of this process comes from a combination of astronomical observations and laboratory simulations under astrophysically relevant conditions.
Aims: For the first time we present the results of temperature programmed desorption (TPD) experi…

The rotation state of 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko from approach observations with the OSIRIS cameras on Rosetta

Jorda, L.; Lamy, P. L.; Bertaux, J. -L. +46 more

Aims: Approach observations with the Optical, Spectroscopic, and Infrared Remote Imaging System (OSIRIS) experiment onboard Rosetta are used to determine the rotation period, the direction of the spin axis, and the state of rotation of comet 67P's nucleus.
Methods: Photometric time series of 67P have been acquired by OSIRIS since the pos…

Formation of pebble-pile planetesimals

Johansen, Anders; Wahlberg Jansson, Karl

Asteroids and Kuiper belt objects are remnant planetesimals from the epoch of planet formation. The first stage of planet formation is the accumulation of dust and ice grains into mm- and cm-sized pebbles. These pebbles can clump together through the streaming instability and form gravitationally bound pebble clouds. Pebbles inside such a cloud wi…

Constraints on the subsurface structure and density of the nucleus of Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko from Arecibo radar observations

Lamy, P. L.; Toth, I.; Herique, A. +1 more

Context. Little is known about the internal structure of cometary nuclei. In addition to understanding their accretion in the early solar nebula and their subsequent evolution in the solar system, we find this question to be of acute and timely interest in the case of 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko (hereafter 67P/C-G) due to be visited by the Rosetta s…

Pre-perihelion activity of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko

Schulz, R.; Tozzi, G. P.; Rożek, A. +3 more

Context. Comets are believed to hold a relatively pristine record of the physical and chemical processes that occurred during the formation and evolution of the solar system. Thorough investigations of these small bodies, such as the one that will be performed by the ESA/Rosetta cornerstone mission, are thus supposed to bring strong and unique con…