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1.
The process of comet formation through the hierarchical aggregation of originally submicron-sized interstellar grains to form micron-sized particles and then larger bodies in the protoplanetary disc, culminating in the formation of planetesimals in the disc extending from Jupiter to beyond Neptune, is briefly reviewed. The ‘planetesimal’ theory for the origin of comets implies the existence of distinct cometary reservoirs, with implications for the immediate provenance of observed comets (both long-period and short-period) and their evolution as a result of planetary perturbations and physical decay, for example splitting and sublimation. The principal mode of cometary decay and collisional interaction with the terrestrial planets is through the formation and evolution of streams of cometary debris and hitherto undiscovered ‘families’ of cometary asteroids. Recent dynamical results, in particular the sungrazing and sun-colliding end-state for short-period comet and asteroid orbits, are briefly discussed.  相似文献   

2.
Abstract— Understanding the nature of the cometary nucleus remains one of the major problems in solar system science. Whipple's (1950) icy conglomerate model has been very successful at explaining a range of cometary phenomena, including the source of cometary activity and the nongravitational orbital motion of the nuclei. However, the internal structure of the nuclei is still largely unknown. We review herein the evidence for cometary nuclei as fluffy aggregates or primordial rubble piles, as first proposed by Donn et al. (1985) and Weissman (1986). These models assume that cometary nuclei are weakly bonded aggregations of smaller, icy‐conglomerate planetesimals, possibly held together only by self‐gravity. Evidence for this model comes from studies of the accretion and subsequent evolution of material in the solar nebula, from observations of disrupted comets, and in particular comet Shoemaker‐Levy 9, from measurements of the ensemble rotational properties of observed cometary nuclei, and from recent spacecraft missions to comets. Although the evidence for rubble pile nuclei is growing, the eventual answer to this question will likely not come until we can place a spacecraft in orbit around a cometary nucleus and study it in detail over many months to years. ESA's Rosetta mission, now en route to comet 67P/Churyumov‐Gerasimenko, will provide that opportunity.  相似文献   

3.
Comet simulation experiments are discussed, in the context of physical models and the results in cometary physics, gathered especially from the GIOTTO space mission to comet P'Halley. The “status of the today knowledge” about comets, the experiments could start from, is briefly reviewed. The setup of the KOSI (German = Kometen Simulation) - experiments and the techniques to produce cometary analogous material, on the basis of that knowledge are described in general, as for the different KOSI experiments. The limitations of the simulation of physical processes at the surface of real comets in an earth-bound laboratory are discussed, and the possibilities to receive common insights in cometary physics are shown. Methods and procedures are described, and the major results reviewed. As with attempting to reproduce any natural phenomenon in the laboratory, there are short-comings to these experiments, but there are possibly major new insights to be gained. Physical laws only have the same consequences under same experimental or environmental conditions. A number of small-scale comet simulation experiments have been performed, since the early 60ties in many laboratories, but the largest and most ambitious series of comet simulation experiments to date were performed between 1987 and 1993 using the German space agency's (DLR) space hardware testing facilities in Cologne. These experiments were triggered by the scientific community after the comet P'Halley's recurrence in 1986 and the many data gathered by the space missions in this year. Simulation experiments have proved valuable in developing methods for making cometary analogues, and for exploring specific properties of such materials in detail. These experiments provided new insights into the morphology and physical behavior of aggregates formed out of silicate- /water-ice -grains likely to exist in comets. The formation of a dust mantle on the surface, and a system of ice layers below the mantle from the different admixed materials, have been detected after the insolation of the artificial comet. The mechanisms for heat transfer between the comet's surface and its interior, compositional, structural, and isotopic changes that occur near the comet's surface, were described by modeling in accordance with the experimental results. The mechanisms of the ejection of dust and ice grains from the surface, and the importance of gas-drag in propelling grains were investigated by close-up video cameras. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.  相似文献   

4.
L.E. Snyder 《Icarus》1982,51(1):1-24
The current status of cometary radio observations is reviewed. Radio continuum observations made at different wavelengths can be used to model the properties of cometary particles. Continuum observations have been successful for two comets but the interpretation of the data is subject to some disagreement. Radar observations are important for determining the size, angular momentum, direction of motion, and surface properties of the cometary nucleus. One comet, p/Encke, has been successfully observed by radar. The reasons why radio observations can fail are discussed. These include the undue influence of the highly volatile “comet frost” which often coats new comets, small errors in radio ephemerides, the inopportune scheduling of observing periods at less than optimum cometary heliocentric distances and velocities, and poor spectroscopic properties of the molecular transitions chosen for observations. In order to clarify the sometimes confusing observations which have been reported, cometary radio spectroscopy is reviewed in chronological order, comet by comet, starting from the earliest reported searches for polyatomic molecules in the early 1970s through progress in understanding cometary OH and into current searches for glycine, the simplest amino acid. The results of current OH ultraviolet pumping models are briefly discussed and several formalisms for computing molecular production rates arepresented. Radio observational programs which can aid in discriminating between current theories of terrestrial biological evolution are introduced. Both specific and general conclusions are drawn from the available material on cometary radio spectroscopy.  相似文献   

5.
Destruction mechanisms connected with thermodynamical behaviour of cometary material are reviewed with a special consideration of their effects on activity of comets. Consequences of thermal stresses which occur in the interior of a comet are discussed with reference to changes in the cometary brightness. Moreover, thermal destruction of grains placed in the head of the comet as well as on the surface of the nucleus is considered. It has been shown that the destruction of the cometary material can lead to an essential increase in the activity of the comet. Calculations have been carried out for a large assumed range of cometary parameters. The obtained simulated changes in the brightness of comets are consistent with the ones observed during the real variations and outbursts of brightness. (© 2005 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)  相似文献   

6.
Many new cometary molecules — both parents and daughters — were detected in the exceptionally productive comet C/1995 O1 (Hale-Bopp).The space distribution of several of these species could be investigated from radio interferometry or from long-slit spectroscopy in the infrared. The distinction between parent species — directly sublimated from nucleus ices — and secondary species — resulting from chemical processing in the coma or produced by a secondary source — is not always clear. It is important to assess whether or not observed minor species (HCOOCH3, HCOOH...) could be synthesized by chemical reactions favoured by the high density of the coma of comet Hale-Bopp. Chemical modelling by Rodgers and Charnley suggests that this is notthe case. CO and H2CO are abundant cometary species which partly come from distributed sources. The nature of these sources is still a mystery. A special case, now well documented, is that of HNC, for which the abundance evolution with heliocentric distance could be observed in comet Hale-Bopp and which was observed in several much less productive comets.  相似文献   

7.
Splitting events affect cometary nuclei to a different level of severity ranging from complete disruption of the nucleus (e.g., C/1999 S4 LINEAR) to separation of major fragments (e.g., 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 3) and spill-offs of smaller boulders (e.g., C/2001 A2 LINEAR).Fragmentation of comets produces secondary products over a wide range of sizes (from cometesimals to sub-micron dust). It is detectable through the presence of fragments (with own comae and tails) in the coma of the parent nucleus, through outbursts in its activity and through arc-lets (“coma wings”)associated with fragments. The secondaries have different life times and show different non-gravitational forces. Nucleus splitting is also considered to generate whole families of comets (Kreutz group) or — if gravitational bound — multiple nuclei (e.g., C/1995 O1 Hale-Bopp). It may explain the striae phenomena seen in dust tails of bright comets (C/1995 O1 Hale-Bopp) and the detection of chains of impact craters onother bodies in the solar system. As process of significant mass loss it is relevant for the scenario of nucleus extinction, at the same time it also plays a role for the number statistics of existing (observable) comets and for the size distribution of comet nuclei. Various model scenarios for nucleus splitting are proposed: tidal disruption, rotational splitting, break-up due to internal gas pressure, fragmentation due to collision with other bodies. Only in one case, Comet D/1993 F1Shoemaker-Levy 9, the physical process of fragmentation could be undoubtedly identified. In any case, comet splitting provides important insights inthe internal structure, surface layering and chemistry of comet nuclei.  相似文献   

8.
Time variation in impact probability is studied by assuming that the periodic flux of the Oort Cloud comets within 15 au arises from the motion of the Sun with respect to the Galactic mid-plane. The periodic flux clearly shows up in the impact rate of the captured Oort Cloud cometary population, with a phase shift caused by the orbital evolution. Depending on the assumed flux of comets and the size distribution of comets, the impact rate of the Oort Cloud comets of 1 km in diameter or greater is from 5 to 700 impacts Myr−1 on the Earth and from 0.5 to 70 impacts per 1000 yr on Jupiter. The relative fractions of impacts are 0.09, 0.11, 0.26 and 0.54 for long-period comets, Halley type comets, Jupiter family comets and near-Earth objects, respectively. For Jupiter, the corresponding fractions in the first three categories are 0.18, 0.31 and 0.51. If we consider physical fading of comet activity that is compatible with the observations, then the impact rates of active comets are two orders of magnitude smaller than the total impact rates by all kinds of comets and cometary asteroids of size 1 km or greater.  相似文献   

9.
An analytical review of the models of ejection of meteoroids from cometary nuclei is presented. Different formulas for the ejection velocity of meteoroids and the corresponding parameters are discussed and compared with the use of comet Halley and the Geminids meteoroid stream as examples. The ejection velocities obtained from observations of the dust trails of comets are discussed, and the values for comets 2P/Encke, 4P/Faye, 17P/Holmes, 22P/Kopff, and 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko are compared to the velocities yielded by Whipple’s model. The uncertainty intervals of the results are estimated.  相似文献   

10.
Until cometary matter can be studied in-situ or cometary samples are brought back to Earth for analysis, theoretical models and laboratory studies remain a crucial tool for revealing the nature of cometary matter. Constraints on the nature of the primordial material available for incorporation into comets and other solar system material comes from analysis of data from space-based and ground-based observatories. The structure of the nuclear ice component, which may have coexisting amorphous/crystalline phases and include clathrates and other trapped guest molecules, strongly influences the cometary outgassing properties. This paper reviews laboratory work on ice and carbon aceous compounds and discusses their significance for cometary chemistry. Special emphasis will be given to studies on the thermal processing of ices and their implications for the structure changes and subsequent release of volatiles. We also describe the preliminary results of a model of nuclear outgassing, and discuss how such model scan be used to infer the chemical structure of the nuclearices. Furthermore, we confront cometary data with the analysis of carbonaceous meteorites. Recent laboratory results on volatile compounds and the macro molecular structure of carbonaceous meteorites allow us to investigate the link of small bodies in the Solar System. Until ROSETTA will land on comet Wirtanen and study directly the nuclear composition, laboratory measurements of ice and refractory analogs will — together with the analysis of meteorites —significantly improve our knowledge on the origin and structure ofcomets.  相似文献   

11.
《Planetary and Space Science》1999,47(6-7):787-795
The infrared emission of various comets can be matched within the framework that all comets are made of aggregated interstellar dust. This is demonstrated by comparing results on Halley (a periodic comet), Borrelly (a Jupiter family short period comet), Hale-Bopp (a long period comet), and extra-solar comets in the β Pictoris disk. Attempts have been made to generalize the chemical composition of comet nuclei based on the observation of cometary dust and volatiles and the interstellar dust model. Finally, we deduce some of the expected dust and surface properties of comet Wirtanen from the interstellar dust model as applied to other comets.  相似文献   

12.
The process of comet formation through the hierarchical aggregation of originally submicron-sized interstellar grains to form micron-sized particles and then larger bodies in the protoplanetary disc, culminating in the formation of planetesimals in the disc extending from Jupiter to beyond Neptune, is briefly reviewed. The planetesimal theory for the origin of comets implies the existence of distinct cometary reservoirs, with implications for the immediate provenance of observed comets (both long-period and short-period) and their evolution as a result of planetary perturbations and physical decay, for example splitting and sublimation. The principal mode of cometary decay and collisional interaction with the terrestrial planets is through the formation and evolution of streams of cometary debris and hitherto undiscovered families of cometary asteroids. Recent dynamical results, in particular the sungrazing and sun-colliding end-state for short-period comet and asteroid orbits, are briefly discussed.  相似文献   

13.
W-H. Ip  D.A. Mendis 《Icarus》1977,30(2):377-384
The structure of the ionosphere of a CO-rich comet is computed using two different models. The first one, the photochemical model, assumes that the dissociation and ionization of cometary neutrals and ions are due to photoionization and photodissociation by solar uv radiation together with dissociative recombinations and ion-neutral reactions. The second one, the internal source model, also incorporates the ionization and dissociation effects of an electric current dischanging through the inner coma. The generation of this current has been discussed in earlier papers. It is concluded that the internal source model can explain qualitatively the basic morphology of the ionospheres of CO-rich comets such as Humason (1962, VIII) and Morehouse (1908, III), whereas the photochemical model cannot. The main aim of this paper is not so much to provide accurate numerical estimates as to draw attention to a process which may very well dominate the structures of cometary ionospheres.  相似文献   

14.
The data obtained in the recent Rosetta space mission to comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko have had a profound impact on the understanding of the nature of comets. In addition to revising the notions on the physical properties and structure of comets, this addresses dynamical aspects of the formation of the observed cometary populations (short- and long-period comets, Centaurs, trans-Neptunian objects, and Oort-cloud objects). In the review, we discuss new problems that have appeared in the theory of dynamical evolution and origin of comets due to the Rosetta mission.  相似文献   

15.
In the paper the potential sources of energy of cometary outbursts have been reviewed. Considerations focus on four probable sources of the outbursts' energy. These are the polymerization of hydrogen cyanide HCN, impacts with the meteoroids, destruction of cometary grains in the field of strong solar wind and the transformation of amorphous water Ice into the crystalline one. The values of released energy and jumps of cometary brightness caused by these mechanisms have been discussed. A modern approach to the problem of the thermodynamical evolution of the comet nucleus which includes amorphous water ice is considered as the starting point in the discussion presented in the paper. The main characteristics of an outburst of a hypothetical comet belonging to the Jupiter family comet are calculated. The obtained results are in a good agreement with the characteristics observed during the real outbursts of comets. The main conclusion of this paper confirms a general presumption that the cometary outbursts can have different causes. However, the hypothesis concerning the amorphous water ice transformation appears to be the most probable one. (© 2007 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)  相似文献   

16.
《Planetary and Space Science》1999,47(6-7):855-872
From the current understanding we know that comet nuclei have heterogeneous compositions and complex structures. It is believed that cometary activity is the result of a combination of physical processes in the nucleus, like sublimation and recondensation of volatile ices, dust grains release, phase transition of water ice, depletion of the most volatile components in the outer layers and interior differentiation.The evolution of the comet depends on the sublimation of ices and the release of different gases and dust grains: the formation of a dust crust, the surface erosion and the development of the coma are related to the gas fluxes escaping from the nucleus. New observations, laboratory experiments and numerical simulations suggest that the gas and dust emissions are locally generated, in the so-called active regions. This localized activity is probably superimposed to the global nucleus activity. The differences between active and inactive regions can be attributed to differences in texture and refractory material content of the different areas.In this paper we present the results of numerical models of cometary nucleus evolution, developed in order to understand which are the processes leading to the formation of active and non-active regions on the cometary surface. The used numerical code solves the equations of heat transport and gas diffusion within a porous nucleus composed of different ices—such as water (the dominant constituent), CO2, CO- and of dust grains embedded in the ice matrix.By varying the set of physical parameters describing the initial properties of comet P/Wirtanen, the different behaviour of the icy and dusty areas can be followed.Comet P/Wirtanen is the target of the international ROSETTA mission, the cornerstone ESA mission to a cometary nucleus. The successful design of ROSETTA requires some knowledge of comet status and activity: surface temperatures, amount of active and inactive surface areas, gas production rate and dust flux.  相似文献   

17.
Comets seem to be composed of matter, which is supposed to have the same molecular composition as protosolar nebula. Although there are no unbiased evidence that cometary nuclei retain the molecular composition inherited from the protosolar cloud, the observed properties of comets indicate that there is at least a resemblance between cometary composition and the material properties of dense interstellar clouds. Therefore the origin of comets could be searched in the cold stages of the protosolar nebula and molecular abundances of grain mantles in this nebula may be similar to those in the cometary dust. It is suggested that comets may contain pristine, virtually unaltered protosolar material and their study might be very relevant way to more information about processes in early stages of the solar nebula. Our knowledge about composition of the cometary nucleus is still relatively scarce, but we can partly deduce it from data obtained either by ground-based spectroscopy or by in situ mass spectrometry from space experiments. Most important were the discovery of fluffy CHON particles composed partly or even completely from compounds containing light elements. No consensus concerning the presence of interstellar pristine matter in comet has been reached from various approaches to determine the relationship between comets and interstellar grains. Most of these studies are based on infrared spectroscopy. Another method is the comparison on the chemical models of the protosolar nebula with the volatile compounds of the cometary nuclei. Both gas-phase and grain-surface chemistry are considered and initial gas-phase atomic abundances are assumed to be protosolar. The cometary matter is certainly not identical with the typical material of dense interstellar cool dense clouds, but it is closer to it than any other type of matter in solar system so far accessible to us. The data from comets combined with models of chemical evolution of matter in environment similar as prevailed the early stage of presolar nebula may at least impose constrains on the condition for comet formation. Here presented study is a preliminary contribution to such studies.  相似文献   

18.
The mechanism of brightness outbursts of comets based on selective absorption of solar ultraviolet radiation by hydrogen atoms in the cometary head is considered. Due to this process, influence of the radiation on parent and daughter molecules in the near-nucleus region of the cometary head is different. As a result, under certain physical conditions in the cometary coma, the electronic-temperature increase may cause an outburst in the brightness of the comet.  相似文献   

19.
Abstract— The presence of high‐temperature materials in the Stardust collection that are isotopically similar to those seen in chondritic meteorites argues for the outward transport of materials from the hot, inner region of the solar nebula to the region where comets formed. A number of mechanisms have been proposed to be responsible for this transport, with a number of models being developed to show that such outward transport is possible. However, these models have not examined in detail how these grains are transported after they have been delivered to the comet formation region or how they may be distributed in the cometary nuclei that form. Here, the dynamical evolution of crystalline silicates injected onto the surface of the solar nebula as proposed by jet models for radial transport is considered. It is generally found that crystalline grains should be heterogeneously distributed within the population of comets and within individual cometary nuclei. In order to achieve a homogeneous distribution of such grains, turbulence must be effective at mixing the crystalline silicates with native, amorphous grains on fine scales. However, this turbulent mixing would serve to dilute the crystalline silicates as it would redistribute them over large radial distances. These results suggest that it is difficult to infer the bulk properties of Wild 2 from the Stardust samples, and that the abundance of crystalline grains in these samples cannot alone be used to rule out or in favor of any of the different radial transport models that have been proposed.  相似文献   

20.
In this work we have compiled 37,692 observations of 27 periodic and non-periodic comets to create the secular light curves (SLCs), using two plots per comet. The data have been reduced homogeneously. Our overriding goal is to learn the properties of the ensemble of comets. More than 30 parameters are listed, of which over ∼20 are new and measured from the plots. We define two ages for a comet using activity as a proxy, the photometric age P-AGE, and the time-age, T-AGE. It is shown that these parameters are robust, implying that the input data can have significant errors but P-AGE and T-AGE come out with small errors. This is due to their mathematical definition. It is shown that P-AGE classifies comets by shape of their light curve. The value of this Atlas is twofold: The SLCs not only show what we know, but also show what we do not know, thus pointing the way to meaningful observations. Besides their scientific value, these plots are useful for planning observations. The SLCs have not been modeled, and there is no cometary light curve standard model as there is for some variable stars (i.e. eclipsing binaries). Comets are classified by age and size. In this way it is found that 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1 is a baby goliath comet, while C/1983 J1 Sugano-Saigusa-Fujikawa is a middle age dwarf. There are new classes of comets based on their photometric properties. The secular light curves presented in this Atlas exhibit complexity beyond current understanding.  相似文献   

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