Surface regolith and environment of comets
Abstract
A model for the formation of regolith at cometary surfaces is proposed which is based on the observational fact that comet nuclei release particles with sizes in the micrometre to the decimetre range. The particle emission mechanism is appropriated not only to accelerate particles to escape velocity, but also to "launch" them into orbits above the cometary surface and to deposite them at inactive parts of the surface, forming there a regolith surface. The orbiting particles form a near-surface particle-populated environment of comet nuclei.
- Publication:
-
Planetary and Space Science
- Pub Date:
- November 1994
- DOI:
- 10.1016/0032-0633(94)90053-1
- Bibcode:
- 1994P&SS...42..933M
- Keywords:
-
- Astronomical Models;
- Comet Nuclei;
- Cometary Atmospheres;
- Particle Emission;
- Regolith;
- Giotto Mission;
- Infrared Astronomy Satellite;
- Particle Acceleration;
- Particle Size Distribution;
- Vega Project;
- Lunar and Planetary Exploration