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Noble Gas Planetology and the Xenon Clouds of Uranus

Zahnle, Kevin

Noble gases provide tracers of cosmic provenance that are accessible to a future Uranus atmospheric probe. Argon and krypton are expected to be well mixed on Uranus with respect to H₂ and He, although condensation at the winter pole may be possible. The Ar/H₂ and Ar/Kr ratios address whether the materials accreted by Uranus r…

Parent Volatile Outgassing Associations in Cometary Nuclei: Synthesizing Rosetta Measurements and Ground-based Observations

Bodewits, Dennis; Luspay-Kuti, Adrienn; Bonev, Boncho P. +5 more

Comets, as remnants of the solar system's formation, vary in volatile-refractory content. In situ comet studies, such as the Rosetta mission to 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko, provide detailed volatile composition insights, while ground-based studies offer broader comet samples but in fewer species. Comparing 67P's volatile correlations during the 2 yr…

Dual Sources of S₂ Observed in Comet 67P: Insights from Comparing ROSINA Measurements and Laboratory Simulations

Choukroun, Mathieu; Hodyss, Robert; Mahjoub, Ahmed +2 more

Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) is the fifth most abundant molecule observed in the coma of comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko (67P). Prior to its incorporation into cometary materials, H₂S likely underwent ultraviolet (UV) radiation exposure, which is thought to initiate a complex sulfur chemistry. We present an investigation into the U…