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Bibring JP, Langevin Y, Carter J, Eng P, Gondet B, Jorda L, Le Mouélic S, Mottola S, Pilorget C, Poulet F, Vincendon M. COMETARY SCIENCE. 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko surface properties as derived from CIVA panoramic images. Science 2015; 349:aab0671. [PMID: 26228154 DOI: 10.1126/science.aab0671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
The structure and composition of cometary constituents, down to their microscopic scale, are critical witnesses of the processes and ingredients that drove the formation and evolution of planetary bodies toward their present diversity. On board Rosetta's lander Philae, the Comet Infrared and Visible Analyser (CIVA) experiment took a series of images to characterize the surface materials surrounding the lander on comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. Images were collected twice: just after touchdown, and after Philae finally came to rest, where it acquired a full panorama. These images reveal a fractured surface with complex structure and a variety of grain scales and albedos, possibly constituting pristine cometary material.
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Affiliation(s)
- J-P Bibring
- Institut d'Astrophysique Spatiale (IAS), CNRS/Université Paris Sud, Orsay, France.
| | - Y Langevin
- Institut d'Astrophysique Spatiale (IAS), CNRS/Université Paris Sud, Orsay, France
| | - J Carter
- Institut d'Astrophysique Spatiale (IAS), CNRS/Université Paris Sud, Orsay, France
| | - P Eng
- Institut d'Astrophysique Spatiale (IAS), CNRS/Université Paris Sud, Orsay, France
| | - B Gondet
- Institut d'Astrophysique Spatiale (IAS), CNRS/Université Paris Sud, Orsay, France
| | - L Jorda
- Laboratoire d'Astrophysique de Marseille (LAM), UMR7326,CNRS/INSU/Université Aix-Marseille, France
| | - S Le Mouélic
- Laboratoire Planétologie et Géodynamique, CNRS UMR6112 and Université de Nantes, Nantes, France
| | - S Mottola
- Deutschen Zentrum für Luft und Raumfahrt (DLR), Institute of Planetary Research, Berlin, Germany
| | - C Pilorget
- Institut d'Astrophysique Spatiale (IAS), CNRS/Université Paris Sud, Orsay, France
| | - F Poulet
- Institut d'Astrophysique Spatiale (IAS), CNRS/Université Paris Sud, Orsay, France
| | - M Vincendon
- Institut d'Astrophysique Spatiale (IAS), CNRS/Université Paris Sud, Orsay, France
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Sierks H, Barbieri C, Lamy PL, Rodrigo R, Koschny D, Rickman H, Keller HU, Agarwal J, A'Hearn MF, Angrilli F, Auger AT, Barucci MA, Bertaux JL, Bertini I, Besse S, Bodewits D, Capanna C, Cremonese G, Da Deppo V, Davidsson B, Debei S, De Cecco M, Ferri F, Fornasier S, Fulle M, Gaskell R, Giacomini L, Groussin O, Gutierrez-Marques P, Gutiérrez PJ, Güttler C, Hoekzema N, Hviid SF, Ip WH, Jorda L, Knollenberg J, Kovacs G, Kramm JR, Kührt E, Küppers M, La Forgia F, Lara LM, Lazzarin M, Leyrat C, Lopez Moreno JJ, Magrin S, Marchi S, Marzari F, Massironi M, Michalik H, Moissl R, Mottola S, Naletto G, Oklay N, Pajola M, Pertile M, Preusker F, Sabau L, Scholten F, Snodgrass C, Thomas N, Tubiana C, Vincent JB, Wenzel KP, Zaccariotto M, Pätzold M. Cometary science. On the nucleus structure and activity of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. Science 2015; 347:aaa1044. [PMID: 25613897 DOI: 10.1126/science.aaa1044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Images from the OSIRIS scientific imaging system onboard Rosetta show that the nucleus of 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko consists of two lobes connected by a short neck. The nucleus has a bulk density less than half that of water. Activity at a distance from the Sun of >3 astronomical units is predominantly from the neck, where jets have been seen consistently. The nucleus rotates about the principal axis of momentum. The surface morphology suggests that the removal of larger volumes of material, possibly via explosive release of subsurface pressure or via creation of overhangs by sublimation, may be a major mass loss process. The shape raises the question of whether the two lobes represent a contact binary formed 4.5 billion years ago, or a single body where a gap has evolved via mass loss.
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Affiliation(s)
- Holger Sierks
- Max-Planck-Institut für Sonnensystemforschung, 37077 Göttingen, Germany.
| | - Cesare Barbieri
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Padova, 35122 Padova, Italy
| | - Philippe L Lamy
- Laboratoire d'Astrophysique de Marseille, UMR 7326, CNRS & Aix Marseille Université, 13388 Marseille Cedex 13, France
| | - Rafael Rodrigo
- Centro de Astrobiologia, CSIC-INTA,28850 Madrid, Spain. International Space Science Institute, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Detlef Koschny
- Scientific Support Office, European Space Research and Technology Centre/ESA, 2201 AZ Noordwijk ZH, Netherlands
| | - Hans Rickman
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Uppsala University, 75120 Uppsala, Sweden. PAS Space Research Center, 00716 Warszawa, Poland
| | - Horst Uwe Keller
- Institut für Geophysik und extraterrestrische Physik, Technische Universität Braunschweig, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany. Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt, Institut für Planetenforschung, 12489 Berlin, Germany
| | - Jessica Agarwal
- Max-Planck-Institut für Sonnensystemforschung, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Michael F A'Hearn
- Max-Planck-Institut für Sonnensystemforschung, 37077 Göttingen, Germany. Department of Astronomy, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA. Akademie der Wissenschaften zu Göttingen, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Francesco Angrilli
- Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Anne-Therese Auger
- Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, Laboratoire d'Astrophysique de Marseille, UMR 7326, 13388 Marseille, France
| | - M Antonella Barucci
- LESIA-Observatoire de Paris, CNRS, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Université Paris Diderot, 92195 Meudon, France
| | | | - Ivano Bertini
- Centro di Ateneo di Studi ed Attività Spaziali "Giuseppe Colombo" (CISAS), University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Sebastien Besse
- Scientific Support Office, European Space Research and Technology Centre/ESA, 2201 AZ Noordwijk ZH, Netherlands
| | - Dennis Bodewits
- Department of Astronomy, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - Claire Capanna
- Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, Laboratoire d'Astrophysique de Marseille, UMR 7326, 13388 Marseille, France
| | | | | | - Björn Davidsson
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Uppsala University, 75120 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Stefano Debei
- Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | | | - Francesca Ferri
- Centro di Ateneo di Studi ed Attività Spaziali "Giuseppe Colombo" (CISAS), University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Sonia Fornasier
- LESIA-Observatoire de Paris, CNRS, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Université Paris Diderot, 92195 Meudon, France
| | - Marco Fulle
- INAF - Osservatorio Astronomico di Trieste, 34014 Trieste, Italy
| | | | - Lorenza Giacomini
- Centro di Ateneo di Studi ed Attività Spaziali "Giuseppe Colombo" (CISAS), University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Olivier Groussin
- Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, Laboratoire d'Astrophysique de Marseille, UMR 7326, 13388 Marseille, France
| | | | - Pedro J Gutiérrez
- Instituto de Astrofisica de Andalucia (CSIC), c/ Glorieta de la AstronomÌa s/n, 18008 Granada, Spain
| | - Carsten Güttler
- Max-Planck-Institut für Sonnensystemforschung, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Nick Hoekzema
- Max-Planck-Institut für Sonnensystemforschung, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Stubbe F Hviid
- Max-Planck-Institut für Sonnensystemforschung, 37077 Göttingen, Germany. Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt, Institut für Planetenforschung, 12489 Berlin, Germany
| | - Wing-Huen Ip
- Graduate Institute of Astronomy, National Central University, Chung-Li 32054, Taiwan. Space Science Institute, Macau University of Science and Technology, Macao, China
| | - Laurent Jorda
- Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, Laboratoire d'Astrophysique de Marseille, UMR 7326, 13388 Marseille, France
| | - Jörg Knollenberg
- Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt, Institut für Planetenforschung, 12489 Berlin, Germany
| | - Gabor Kovacs
- Max-Planck-Institut für Sonnensystemforschung, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - J Rainer Kramm
- Max-Planck-Institut für Sonnensystemforschung, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Ekkehard Kührt
- Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt, Institut für Planetenforschung, 12489 Berlin, Germany
| | - Michael Küppers
- Operations Department, European Space Astronomy Centre/ESA, 28691 Villanueva de la Canada, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Luisa M Lara
- Instituto de Astrofisica de Andalucia (CSIC), c/ Glorieta de la AstronomÌa s/n, 18008 Granada, Spain
| | - Monica Lazzarin
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Padova, 35122 Padova, Italy
| | - Cédric Leyrat
- LESIA-Observatoire de Paris, CNRS, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Université Paris Diderot, 92195 Meudon, France
| | - Josè J Lopez Moreno
- Instituto de Astrofisica de Andalucia (CSIC), c/ Glorieta de la AstronomÌa s/n, 18008 Granada, Spain
| | - Sara Magrin
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Padova, 35122 Padova, Italy
| | - Simone Marchi
- Solar System Exploration Research, Virtual Institute, Southwest Research Institute, Boulder, CO 80302, USA
| | - Francesco Marzari
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Padova, 35122 Padova, Italy
| | - Matteo Massironi
- Centro di Ateneo di Studi ed Attività Spaziali "Giuseppe Colombo" (CISAS), University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy. Dipartimento di Geoscienze, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Harald Michalik
- Institut für Datentechnik und Kommunikationsnetze der TU Braunschweig, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Richard Moissl
- Operations Department, European Space Astronomy Centre/ESA, 28691 Villanueva de la Canada, Madrid, Spain
| | - Stefano Mottola
- Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt, Institut für Planetenforschung, 12489 Berlin, Germany
| | - Giampiero Naletto
- Centro di Ateneo di Studi ed Attività Spaziali "Giuseppe Colombo" (CISAS), University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy. CNR-IFN UOS Padova LUXOR, 35131 Padova, Italy. Department of Information Engineering, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Nilda Oklay
- Max-Planck-Institut für Sonnensystemforschung, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Maurizio Pajola
- Centro di Ateneo di Studi ed Attività Spaziali "Giuseppe Colombo" (CISAS), University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Marco Pertile
- Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy. Centro di Ateneo di Studi ed Attività Spaziali "Giuseppe Colombo" (CISAS), University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Frank Preusker
- Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt, Institut für Planetenforschung, 12489 Berlin, Germany
| | - Lola Sabau
- Instituto Nacional de Tecnica Aeroespacial, 28850 Torrejon de Ardoz, Madrid, Spain
| | - Frank Scholten
- Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt, Institut für Planetenforschung, 12489 Berlin, Germany
| | - Colin Snodgrass
- Max-Planck-Institut für Sonnensystemforschung, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Nicolas Thomas
- Physikalisches Institut, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland. Center for Space and Habitability, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Cecilia Tubiana
- Max-Planck-Institut für Sonnensystemforschung, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | | | - Klaus-Peter Wenzel
- Scientific Support Office, European Space Research and Technology Centre/ESA, 2201 AZ Noordwijk ZH, Netherlands
| | - Mirco Zaccariotto
- Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy. Centro di Ateneo di Studi ed Attività Spaziali "Giuseppe Colombo" (CISAS), University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Martin Pätzold
- Rheinisches Institut für Umweltforschung, Abteilung Planetenforschung, Universität zu Köln, 50931 Köln, Germany
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