First In-Situ Plasma and Neutral Gas Measurements Near Comet Halley - Preliminary VEGA Results
Abstract
The authors present the first in situ observations and a description of the large-scale behaviour of comet Halley's plasma environment. They observed a discontinuity (the "cometopause") between the solar-wind-controlled cometosheath and the magnetized cometary plasma region. From the measured neutral gas density distribution the authors estimate a total gas production rate of 1.3×1030molecules s-1.
- Publication:
-
Pisma v Astronomicheskii Zhurnal
- Pub Date:
- 1986
- Bibcode:
- 1986PAZh...12..666G