Observations of comet 19P/Borrelly by the miniature integrated camera and spectrometer aboard deep space 1

Science
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Abstract

The nucleus of the Jupiter-family comet 19P/Borrelly was closely observed by the Miniature Integrated Camera and Spectrometer aboard the Deep Space 1 spacecraft on 22 September 2001. The 8-kilometer-long body is highly variegated on a scale of 200 meters, exhibiting large albedo variations (0.01 to 0.03) and complex geologic relationships. Short-wavelength infrared spectra (1.3 to 2.6 micrometers) show a slope toward the red and a hot, dry surface (≤345 kelvin, with no trace of water ice or hydrated minerals), consistent with ∼10% or less of the surface actively sublimating. Borrelly's coma exhibits two types of dust features: fans and highly collimated jets. At encounter, the near-nucleus coma was dominated by a prominent dust jet that resolved into at least three smaller jets emanating from a broad basin in the middle of the nucleus. Because the major dust jet remained fixed in orientation, it is evidently aligned near the rotation axis of the nucleus.

Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Observations of comet 19P/Borrelly by the miniature integrated camera and spectrometer aboard deep space 1
Series title Science
DOI 10.1126/science.1069527
Volume 296
Issue 5570
Year Published 2002
Language English
Publisher American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
Contributing office(s) Astrogeology Science Center
Description 5 p.
Larger Work Type Article
Larger Work Subtype Journal Article
Larger Work Title Science
First page 1087
Last page 1091
Other Geospatial Comet Borrelly
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