Imaging Borrelly
Links
- More information: Publisher Index Page (via DOI)
- Download citation as: RIS | Dublin Core
Abstract
The nucleus, coma, and dust jets of short-period Comet 19P/Borrelly were imaged from the Deep Space 1 spacecraft during its close flyby in September 2001. A prominent jet dominated the near-nucleus coma and emanated roughly normal to the long axis of nucleus from a broad central cavity. We show it to have remained fixed in position for more than 34 hr, much longer than the 26-hr rotation period. This confirms earlier suggestions that it is co-aligned with the rotation axis. From a combination of fitting the nucleus light curve from approach images and the nucleus' orientation from stereo images at encounter, we conclude that the sense of rotation is right-handed around the main jet vector. The inferred rotation pole is approximately perpendicular to the long axis of the nucleus, consistent with a simple rotational state. Lacking an existing IAU comet-specific convention but applying a convention provisionally adopted for asteroids, we label this the north pole. This places the sub-solar latitude at ∼60° N at the time of the perihelion with the north pole in constant sunlight and thus receiving maximum average insolation.
Suggested Citation
Soderblom, L.A., Boice, D.C., Britt, D., Brown, R.H., Buratti, B.J., Kirk, R.L., Lee, M., Nelson, R., Oberst, J., Sandel, B., Stern, S., Thomas, N., Yelle, R., 2004, Imaging Borrelly: Icarus, v. 167, no. 1, p. 4-15, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.icarus.2003.07.008.
| Publication type | Article |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Title | Imaging Borrelly |
| Series title | Icarus |
| DOI | 10.1016/j.icarus.2003.07.008 |
| Volume | 167 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Year Published | 2004 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | Elsevier |
| Contributing office(s) | Astrogeology Science Center |
| Description | 12 p. |
| Larger Work Type | Article |
| Larger Work Subtype | Journal Article |
| Larger Work Title | Icarus |
| First page | 4 |
| Last page | 15 |
| Other Geospatial | Comet Borrelly |