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The Nucleus of Comet 9P-Tempel 1: Shape and Geology from Two FlybysThe nucleus of comet Tempel 1 has been investigated at close range during two spacecraft missions separated by one comet orbit of the Sun, 5 1/2 years. The combined imaging covers 70% of the surface of this object which has a mean radius of 2.83 +/- 0.1 km. The surface can be divided into two terrain types: rough, pitted terrain and smoother regions of varying local topography. The rough surface has round depressions from resolution limits (10 m/pixel) up to 1 km across, spanning forms from crisp steep-walled pits, to subtle albedo rings, to topographic rings, with all ranges of morphologic gradation. Three gravitationally low regions of the comet have smoother terrain, parts of which appear to be deposits from minimally modified flows, with other parts likely to be heavily eroded portions of multiple layer piles. Changes observed between the two missions are primarily due to backwasting of scarps bounding one of these probable flow deposits. This style of erosion is also suggested by remnant mesa forms in other areas of smoother terrain. The two distinct terrains suggest either an evolutionary change in processes, topographically- controlled processes, or a continuing interaction of erosion and deposition.
Document ID
20140010174
Acquisition Source
Goddard Space Flight Center
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
External Source(s)
doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2012.02.037
Authors
Thomas, P. (Cornell Univ. Ithaca, NY, United States)
A'Hearn, M. (Maryland Univ. College Park, MD, United States)
Belton, M. J. S. (Belton Space Exploration Initiatives, LLC Tucson, AZ, United States)
Brownlee, D. (Washington Univ. Seattle, WA, United States)
Carcich, B. (Cornell Univ. Ithaca, NY, United States)
Hermalyn, B. (Brown Univ. Providence, RI, United States)
Klaasen, K. (Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Sackett, S. (Cornell Univ. Ithaca, NY, United States)
Schultz, P. H. (Brown Univ. Providence, RI, United States)
Veverka, J. (Cornell Univ. Ithaca, NY, United States)
Bhaskaran, S. (Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Bodewits, D. (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Chesley, S. (Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Clark, B. (Space Science Inst. Boulder, CO, United States)
Farnham, T. (Belton Space Exploration Initiatives, LLC Tucson, AZ, United States)
Groussin, O. (Aix-Marseille Univ. Marseille, France)
Harris, J. (Space Science Institute La Canada, CA, United States)
Kissel, J. (Max-Planck Inst. for Solar System Research Germany)
Li, J.-Y (Maryland Univ. College Park, MD, United States)
Meech, K. (Hawaii Univ. Honolulu, HI, United States)
Melosh, J. (Indiana Univ.-Purdue Univ. Lafayette, IN, United States)
Quick, A. (Rochester Univ. NY, United States)
Richardson, J. (Indiana Univ.-Purdue Univ. Lafayette, IN, United States)
Sunshine, J. (Maryland Univ. College Park, MD, United States)
Wellnitz, D. (Maryland Univ. College Park, MD, United States)
Date Acquired
July 24, 2014
Publication Date
February 1, 2012
Publication Information
Publication: Icarus
Publisher: Elsevier
Volume: 222
Issue: 2
Subject Category
Lunar And Planetary Science And Exploration
Report/Patent Number
GSFC-E-DAA-TN9320
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Public Use Permitted.
Keywords
geological
comet temple 1
nucleus

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