On the dust zoning of rapidly rotating cometary nuclei

Details On the dust zoning of rapidly rotating cometary nuclei On the dust zoning of rapidly rotating cometary nuclei

Dec 1981

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1981apj...251..409h&link_type=abstract

Astrophysical Journal, Part 1, vol. 251, Dec. 1, 1981, p. 409-414.

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

6

Comet Nuclei, Cosmic Dust, Rotating Environments, Buoyancy, Coriolis Effect, Grains, Surface Layers

Scientific paper

The effects of nuclear rotation on the surface of a cometary nucleus (a comet at 1 AU that is H2O dominated and has a radius of 1 km) are considered. It is shown that this dust does not accumulate uniformly on the surface, which here is considered spherical. While dust particles in the two polar cap regions and an equatorial belt remain at rest on the surface, those in two midlatitude bands migrate toward the equator, stopping at the two low latitudes to form dust ridges. As the nucleus spins up, both the polar caps and the equatorial belt shrink in size, and the dust ridges move toward the equator, eventually spinning off the dust from the nucleus when the nuclear rotation period is less than about 3.3 hr. For larger particles for which the gas buoyancy is negligible, migration takes place only if the rotation period is not significantly larger than the critical value of 3.3 hr or if the surface friction is abnormally small.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

On the dust zoning of rapidly rotating cometary nuclei does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with On the dust zoning of rapidly rotating cometary nuclei, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and On the dust zoning of rapidly rotating cometary nuclei will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1260736