ISSN:
1573-0794
Keywords:
Comets
;
small
;
search program
;
planets
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Geosciences
,
Physics
Notes:
Abstract Arguments are presented for a substantial, unexplored population of comets with radii less than 1 km. Known examples confirm this population and extrapolation of any plausible size-distribution function indicates large numbers. However, their accurate numbers, orbital characteristics, and physical properties are unknown. Thus, even though the small comets may be the most frequent cometary bodies impacting the planets, a quantitative evaluation is not currently possible. We advocate an optimized, dedicated search program to characterize this population.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00117524
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