Modelling of the outburst on July 29th , 2015 observed with OSIRIS in the southern hemisphere of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko
Abstract
Images of the nucleus and the coma (gas and dust) of comet 67P/Churyumov- Gerasimenko have been acquired by the OSIRIS (Optical, Spectroscopic, and Infrared Remote Imaging System) cameras system since March 2014 using both the wide angle camera (WAC) and the narrow angle camera (NAC). We are using the NAC camera to study the bright outburst observed on July 29th, 2015 in the southern hemisphere. The NAC camera's wavelength ranges between 250-1000 nm with a combination of 12 filters. The high spatial resolution is needed to localize the source point of the outburst on the surface of the nucleus. At the time of the observations, the heliocentric distance was 1.25AU and the distance between the spacecraft and the comet was 126 km. We aim to understand the physics leading to such outgassing: Is the jet associated to the outbursts controlled by the micro-topography? Or by ice suddenly exposed? We are using the Direct Simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) method to study the gas flow close to the nucleus. The goal of the DSMC code is to reproduce the opening angle of the jet, and constrain the outgassing ratio between outburst source and local region. The results of this model will be compared to the images obtained with the NAC camera.
- Publication:
-
AAS/Division for Planetary Sciences Meeting Abstracts #48
- Pub Date:
- October 2016
- Bibcode:
- 2016DPS....4811614G