Active Regions On The Nucleus Of Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko

Details Active Regions On The Nucleus Of Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko Active Regions On The Nucleus Of Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko

Oct 2007

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2007dps....39.3601g&link_type=abstract

American Astronomical Society, DPS meeting #39, #36.01; Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, Vol. 39, p.485

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astronomy

1

Scientific paper

Rosetta will orbit and land on comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko in 2014. The planning of the mission depends strongly on the location and intensity of active regions. We have developped a model to calculate the water production rate of 67P as a function of heliocentric distance. Our model takes into account the orbital elements of 67P, the orientation of the pole, the rotational period, the shape (spherical or more complex) and the localisation and type of active regions (either small, very active regions or extended, low active regions). The comparison between the water production rates calculated by the model and the compilation of water production rates from the 1982 and 1996 perihelion passages by D.G. Schleicher (2006, Icarus 181, 442-457) gives some constraints on the localisation of active regions. A particular emphasis is placed on reproducing the rotational variability of the water production rate.
We derive that one small very active region covering about 4-5% of the nucleus surface and located in the Northern hemisphere at a latitude of about +65 degree is sufficient to match the data and their temporal variations. Two small active regions located in the Northern hemisphere is not excluded but less probable. One extended, low active region covering about 60% of the nucleus surface can also fit the data, but only the part in the Northern hemisphere contributes to the production rate at perihelion. The case with one region only, located in the Southern hemisphere, is excluded, so that there must be active regions in the Northern hemisphere of 67P. Finally, we conclude that the shape (spherical or more complex) has no influence on the localisation of the active regions.
This work was supported by a grant from the CNES.

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