Year: 2018
Type: article
Abstract: Aims. We investigate the surface distribution of the source regions of dust jets on comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko as a function of time. Methods. The dust jet source regions were traced by the comprehensive imaging data set provided by the OSIRIS scientific camera. Results. We show in detail how the projected footpoints of the dust jets and hence the outgassing zone would move in consonance with the sunlit belt. Furthermore, a number of source regions characterized by repeated jet activity might be the result of local topographical variations or compositional heterogeneities. Conclusions. The spatial and temporal variations in source regions of the dust jets are influenced significantly by the seasonal effect. The strong dependence on the solar zenith angle and local time could be related to the gas sublimation process driven by solar insolation on a surface layer of low thermal inertia.
Source: Astronomy and Astrophysics
Authors: I.-L. Lai, W.-H. Ip, J.-C. Lee, Z.-Y. Lin, J.-B. Vincent, N. Oklay, H. Sierks, C. Barbieri, P. Lamy, R. Rodrigo, D. Koschny, H. Rickman, H. U. Keller, J. Agarwal, M. A. Barucci, J.-L. Bertaux, I. Bertini, D. Bodewits, S. Boudreault, G. Cremonese, V. Da Deppo, B. Davidsson, S. Debei, M. De Cecco, J. Deller, S. Fornasier, M. Fulle, O. Groussin, P. J. Gutiérrez, C. Güttler, M. Hofmann, S. F. Hviid, L. Jorda, J. Knollenberg, G. Kovacs, J.-R. Kramm, E. Kührt, M. Küppers, L. M. Lara, M. Lazzarin, J. J. López-Moreno, F. Marzari, G. Naletto, X. Shi, C. Tubiana, N. Thomas
Institutions: National Central University, Macau University of Science and Technology, Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e. V. (DLR), Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research, University of Padua, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Aix-Marseille Université, Laboratoire d’Astrophysique de Marseille, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Centro de Astrobiología, International Space Science Institute, European Space Research and Technology Centre, Centrum Badań Kosmicznych, Uppsala University, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Observatoire de Paris, Laboratoire d’études spatiales et d’instrumentation en astrophysique, Université Paris Diderot, Université Pierre-et-Marie-Curie, Auburn University, Osservatorio Astronomico di Padova, University of Trento, Trieste Astronomical Observatory, Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía, European Space Astronomy Centre, University of Bern
Language: English
Topic: Astro and Planetary Science
Subfield: Astronomy and Astrophysics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
Funders: European Space Agency, National Science Council, Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales, Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad, Università degli Studi di Padova, Ministry of Science and Technology, Taiwan, Fundo para o Desenvolvimento das Ciências e da Tecnologia, Uppsala Universitet, Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial, Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía
OpenAlex ID: W2896844785