Cometesimals in the inner solar system

Details Cometesimals in the inner solar system Cometesimals in the inner solar system

Dec 1987

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1987natur.330..548d&link_type=abstract

Nature (ISSN 0028-0836), vol. 330, Dec. 10, 1987, p. 548-550. NSF-NASA-supported research.

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astronomy

11

Comets, Particle Size Distribution, Solar System, Ultraviolet Spectroscopy, Lunar Craters, Lyman Alpha Radiation, Spaceborne Astronomy, Voyager 2 Spacecraft

Scientific paper

Spectra obtained by the ultraviolet spectrometer on the Voyager 2 spacecraft between 1 and 2.5 AU are shown to provide evidence for a very large number of 'cometesimals' with radii between a few meters and a few tens of meters in the neighborhood of the earth. The evidence consists of a component in the interplanetary Lyman-alpha radiation that decreases rapidly with heliocentric distance. It is proposed that the source consists of cometesimals which are ice-coated, porous, low-density refractory boulders that may be the building blocks of ordinary comet nuclei. It is shown that the cometesimals required to produce the observed Lyman-alpha emission can also account for all the lunar craters with diameters between 200 m and 1500 m produced during the phase 3200 million years at sites such as Mare Tranquillitatis.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Cometesimals in the inner solar system 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 Cometesimals in the inner solar system, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Cometesimals in the inner solar system will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-905417