Author/Authors :
Hermalyn، نويسنده , , Brendan and Farnham، نويسنده , , Tony L. and Collins، نويسنده , , Steven M. and Kelley، نويسنده , , Michael S. and A’Hearn، نويسنده , , Michael F. and Bodewits، نويسنده , , Dennis and Carcich، نويسنده , , Brian and Lindler، نويسنده , , Don J. and Lisse، نويسنده , , Casey and Meech، نويسنده , , Karen and Schultz، نويسنده , , Peter H. and Thomas، نويسنده , , Peter C.، نويسنده ,
Abstract :
The Deep Impact Spacecraft flew past Comet 103P/Hartley 2 on November 4th, 2010. Images revealed the comet to be enveloped in a field of debris composed of fine grained dust, ice, and hundreds of discrete millimeter to decimeter sized particles. In this work, a selection of the brightest particles are identified and photogrammetrically located in 3D space to examine their positions and dynamics. 90% of the particles detected were within 10 km of the nucleus and traveling a few meters per second or slower. The particles exhibit a high degree of temporal variability in brightness, suggesting rotating, heterogeneous and faceted geometries. This style of near-nucleus environment has not been observed in any other comet to date and it may help explain the hyperactive nature of water production on Hartley 2 and similar comets.
Keywords :
comets , comets , coma , dust , comets , ICES , image processing
