|
|||||
|
|
Comet Halley: Nucleus and jets (results of the VEGA mission) |
|
| Authors: | R Z Sagdeev G A Avanesov I V Barinov A I Debabov V A Kvasikov V I Moroz V A Shamis V I Tarnapolski D A Usikov Ya L Ziman B S Zhukov B A Smith S Larson F Szabo K Szeg A Kondor L Vrhalmi E Mernyi L Szabo I Toth P Cruvellier A Abergel J -L Bertaux J E Blamont M Danz D Mhlmann H Stiller H P Zapfe |
| Institution: | * Space Research Institute, Profsoyuznaya 84/32, 117810, Moscow, GSP-7, USSR ** Central Research Institute for Physics, P.O. Box 49, H-1525, Budapest, Hungary *** Service d'Aeronomie Spatiale CNRS, 13012, Marseille, France ? Space Research Institute, Berlin, GDR ? Also Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA |
| Abstract: | The VEGA-1 and VEGA-2 spacecraft made their closest approach to Comet Halley on 6 and 9 March, respectively. In this paper those results of the onboard imaging experiment which were obtained around closest approach are discussed. The nucleus of the comet was clearly identifiable as an irregularly shaped object, with overall dimensions of (16±1)×(8±1)×(8±1) km. The nucleus rotates in the prograde sense about an axis nearly perpendicular to the orbital plane with a period of 53±2 hours. Its albedo is only Many of the jet features observed during the second fly-by have been spatially reconstructed. Their sources form a quasi-linear structure on the surface. The dust above the surface is shown to be generally optically thin with the exception of certain specific dust jets. Brightness features on the surface are clearly seen. Correlating our data with other measurements, we conclude that the dirty snow-ball model will probably need to be revised. |
| Keywords: | |
| 本文献已被 ScienceDirect 等数据库收录！ | |