A Comet Active Beyond the Crystallization Zone
Abstract
We find that Oort cloud comet C/2017 K2 is active at the record inbound heliocentric distances of 16 and even 24 AU. Water ice cannot sublimate so far from the Sun, and amorphous ice cannot crystallize, immediately removing from consideration two of the standard processes for driving cometary activity. We discuss the nature of K2 and consider supervolatile sublimation as a possible alternate activity source.
- Publication:
-
European Planetary Science Congress
- Pub Date:
- September 2018
- Bibcode:
- 2018EPSC...12..593J