Universität zu Köln

Paetzold, M., Andert, T., Hahn, M., Asmar, S. W., Barriot, J. -P., Bird, M. K., Haeusler, B., Peter, K., Tellmann, S., Gruen, E., Weissman, P. R., Sierks, H., Jorda, L., Gaskell, R., Preusker, F. and Scholten, F. (2016). A homogeneous nucleus for comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko from its gravity field. Nature, 530 (7588). S. 63 - 72. LONDON: NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP. ISSN 1476-4687

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Abstract

Cometary nuclei consist mostly of dust and water ice(1). Previous observations have found nuclei to be low-density and highly porous bodies(2-4), but have only moderately constrained the range of allowed densities because of the measurement uncertainties. Here we report the precise mass, bulk density, porosity and internal structure of the nucleus of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko on the basis of its gravity field. The mass and gravity field are derived from measured spacecraft velocity perturbations at fly-by distances between 10 and 100 kilometres. The gravitational point mass is GM = 666.2 +/- 0.2 cubic metres per second squared, giving a mass M = (9,982 +/- 3) x 10(9) kilograms. Together with the current estimate of the volume of the nucleus(5), the average bulk density of the nucleus is 533 +/- 6 kilograms per cubic metre. The nucleus appears to be a low-density, highly porous (72-74 per cent) dusty body, similar to that of comet 9P/Tempel 1(2,3). The most likely composition mix has approximately four times more dust than ice by mass and two times more dust than ice by volume. We conclude that the interior of the nucleus is homogeneous and constant in density on a global scale without large voids. The high porosity seems to be an inherent property of the nucleus material.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID ORCID Put Code Paetzold, M. UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Andert, T. UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Hahn, M. UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Asmar, S. W. UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Barriot, J. -P. UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Bird, M. K. UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Haeusler, B. UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Peter, K. UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Tellmann, S. UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Gruen, E. UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Weissman, P. R. UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Sierks, H. UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Jorda, L. UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Gaskell, R. UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Preusker, F. UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Scholten, F. UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED
URN:	urn:nbn:de:hbz:38-284764
DOI:	10.1038/nature16535
Journal or Publication Title:	Nature
Volume:	530
Number:	7588
Page Range:	S. 63 - 72
Date:	2016
Publisher:	NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP
Place of Publication:	LONDON
ISSN:	1476-4687
Language:	English
Faculty:	Unspecified
Divisions:	Unspecified
Subjects:	no entry
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Keywords Language MASS; EXPRESS Multiple languages Multidisciplinary Sciences Multiple languages
Refereed:	Yes
URI:	http://kups.ub.uni-koeln.de/id/eprint/28476