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Abundant molecular oxygen in the coma of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko
Wurz, P.; Bochsler, P.; Altwegg, K. +30 more
The composition of the neutral gas comas of most comets is dominated by H2O, CO and CO2, typically comprising as much as 95 per cent of the total gas density. In addition, cometary comas have been found to contain a rich array of other molecules, including sulfuric compounds and complex hydrocarbons. Molecular oxygen (O2…
Large heterogeneities in comet 67P as revealed by active pits from sinkhole collapse
Bertaux, Jean-Loup; Naletto, Giampiero; Debei, Stefano +64 more
Pits have been observed on many cometary nuclei mapped by spacecraft. It has been argued that cometary pits are a signature of endogenic activity, rather than impact craters such as those on planetary and asteroid surfaces. Impact experiments and models cannot reproduce the shapes of most of the observed cometary pits, and the predicted collision …
The diurnal cycle of water ice on comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko
Langevin, Y.; Bellucci, G.; Jaumann, R. +77 more
Observations of cometary nuclei have revealed a very limited amount of surface water ice, which is insufficient to explain the observed water outgassing. This was clearly demonstrated on comet 9P/Tempel 1, where the dust jets (driven by volatiles) were only partially correlated with the exposed ice regions. The observations of 67P/Churyumov-Gerasi…
Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko sheds dust coat accumulated over the past four years
Langevin, Yves; Fischer, Henning; Briois, Christelle +22 more
Comets are composed of dust and frozen gases. The ices are mixed with the refractory material either as an icy conglomerate, or as an aggregate of pre-solar grains (grains that existed prior to the formation of the Solar System), mantled by an ice layer. The presence of water-ice grains in periodic comets is now well established. Modelling of infr…
Two independent and primitive envelopes of the bilobate nucleus of comet 67P
Bertaux, Jean-Loup; Naletto, Giampiero; Debei, Stefano +56 more
The factors shaping cometary nuclei are still largely unknown, but could be the result of concurrent effects of evolutionary and primordial processes. The peculiar bilobed shape of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko may be the result of the fusion of two objects that were once separate or the result of a localized excavation by outgassing at the inte…
Planetary science: Sink holes and dust jets on comet 67P
Weissman, Paul
Analyses of images taken by the Rosetta spacecraft reveal the complex landscape of a comet in rich detail. Close-up views of the surface indicate that some dust jets are being emitted from active pits undergoing sublimation. See Letter p.63
Historic Rosetta mission to end with crash into comet
Gibney, Elizabeth
There were other options, but super close-up shots on descent will provide science bonanza.
Hunt for Philae hangs in the balance
Gibney, Elizabeth
Rosetta mission would have to sacrifice other science to search for comet lander.
Revived Philae poised to do comet science
Gibney, Elizabeth
Comet lander has enough power to do experiments but needs a better communications link.