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Iron and nickel atoms in cometary atmospheres even far from the Sun

Jehin, E.; Manfroid, J.; Hutsemékers, D.

In comets, iron and nickel are found in refractory dust particles or in metallic and sulfide grains¹. So far, no iron- or nickel-bearing molecules have been observed in the gaseous coma of comets². Iron and a few other heavy atoms, such as copper and cobalt, have been observed only in two exceptional objects: the Great Comet …