Biology
Scientific paper
Oct 2008
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2008iaus..251..313t&link_type=abstract
Organic Matter in Space, Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union, IAU Symposium, Volume 251, p. 313-314
Biology
Astrobiology, Comets: General, Methods: Data Analysis
Scientific paper
It is known since long ago that in comets a large quantity of organic matter exists in form of grains or is embedded in silicate grains. This was detected in situ by cometary space missions as well as inferred as a distributed source of some molecules observed in comets. Since organic matter is rather volatile, finding slow sublimating grains in comets can be good evidence of organics as a constituent of such grains. Here we describe a method to detect sublimating grains in comets. It consists of specific observations, specific data analysis, and some light-scattering modeling. We detect sublimating grains by measuring the quantity of grains as a function of the nucleocentric distance. Once detected, it is possible to get their photometric characteristics and compare them with the results of light-scattering modeling. The method has been applied to several comets. Sublimating grains were reliably identified for two of them.
Kolokolova Ludmilla
Tozzi Gian Paolo
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