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The Thermal, Mechanical, Structural, and Dielectric Properties of Cometary Nuclei After Rosetta
Kührt, E.; Gundlach, B.; Davidsson, B. +16 more
The physical properties of cometary nuclei observed today relate to their complex history and help to constrain their formation and evolution. In this article, we review some of the main physical properties of cometary nuclei and focus in particular on the thermal, mechanical, structural and dielectric properties, emphasising the progress made dur…
Comet 67P/CG Nucleus Composition and Comparison to Other Comets
Mottola, Stefano; Kappel, David; Oklay, Nilda +9 more
We review our current knowledge of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko nucleus composition as inferred from measurements made by remote sensing and in-situ instruments aboard Rosetta orbiter and Philae lander. Spectrophotometric properties (albedos, color indexes and Hapke parameters) of 67P/CG derived by Rosetta are discussed in the context of other …
Surface Morphology of Comets and Associated Evolutionary Processes: A Review of Rosetta's Observations of 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko
Keller, H. U.; Mottola, S.; Pajola, M. +7 more
Comets can be regarded as active planetary bodies because they display evidence for nearly all fundamental geological processes, which include impact cratering, tectonism, and erosion. Comets also display sublimation-driven outgassing, which is comparable to volcanism on larger planetary bodies in that it provides a conduit for delivering material…
Local Manifestations of Cometary Activity
Keller, Horst Uwe; Skorov, Yuri; Vincent, Jean-Baptiste +5 more
Comets are made of volatile and refractory material and naturally experience various degrees of sublimation as they orbit around the Sun. This gas release, accompanied by dust, represents what is traditionally described as activity. Although the basic principles are well established, most details remain elusive, especially regarding the mechanisms…
The Dawn of Dust Astronomy
Krüger, Harald; Grün, Eberhard; Srama, Ralf
We review the development of dust science from the first ground-based astronomical observations of dust in space to compositional analysis of individual dust particles and their source objects. A multitude of observational techniques is available for the scientific study of space dust: from meteors and interplanetary dust particles collected in th…
Towards New Comet Missions
Kührt, E.; Gundlach, B.; Thomas, N. +6 more
The Rosetta observations have greatly advanced our knowledge of the cometary nucleus and its immediate environment. However, constraints on the mission (both planned and unplanned), the only partially successful Philae lander, and other instrumental issues have inevitably resulted in open questions. Surprising results from the many successful Rose…