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1. The global surface composition of 67P/CG nucleus by Rosetta/VIRTIS. I) Prelanding mission phase

Author

Filacchione, Gianrico, Capaccioni, Fabrizio, Ciarniello, Mauro, Raponi, Andrea, Tosi, Federico, De Sanctis, Maria Cristina, Erard, Stephane, Morvan, Dominique Bockelee, Leyrat, Cedric, Arnold, Gabriele, Schmitt, Bernard, Quirico, Eric, Piccioni, Giuseppe, Migliorini, Alessandra, Capria, Maria Teresa, Palomba, Ernesto, Cerroni, Priscilla, Longobardo, Andrea, Barucci, Antonella, Fornasier, Sonia, Carlson, Robert W., Jaumann, Ralf, Stephan, Katrin, Moroz, Lyuba V., Kappel, David, Rousseau, Batiste, Fonti, Sergio, Mancarella, Francesca, Despan, Daniela, and Faure, Mathilde

Subjects
Astrophysics - Earth and Planetary Astrophysics
Abstract

From August to November 2014 the Rosetta orbiter has performed an extensive observation campaign aimed at the characterization of 67P/CG nucleus properties and to the selection of the Philae landing site. The campaign led to the production of a global map of the illuminated portion of 67P/CG nucleus. During this prelanding phase the comet's heliocentric distance decreased from 3.62 to 2.93 AU while Rosetta was orbiting around the nucleus at distances between 100 to 10 km. VIRTIS-M, the Visible and InfraRed Thermal Imaging Spectrometer - Mapping channel (Coradini et al. 2007) onboard the orbiter, has acquired 0.25-5.1 micron hyperspectral data of the entire illuminated surface, e.g. the north hemisphere and the equatorial regions, with spatial resolution between 2.5 and 25 m/pixel. I/F spectra have been corrected for thermal emission removal in the 3.5-5.1 micron range and for surface's photometric response. The resulting reflectance spectra have been used to compute several Cometary Spectral Indicators (CSI): single scattering albedo at 0.55 micron, 0.5-0.8 micron and 1.0-2.5 micron spectral slopes, 3.2 micron organic material and 2.0 micron water ice band parameters (center, depth) with the aim to map their spatial distribution on the surface and to study their temporal variability as the nucleus moved towards the Sun. Indeed, throughout the investigated period, the nucleus surface shows a significant increase of the single scattering albedo along with a decrease of the 0.5-0.8 and 1.0-2.5 micron spectral slopes, indicating a flattening of the reflectance. We attribute the origin of this effect to the partial removal of the dust layer caused by the increased contribution of water sublimation to the gaseous activity as comet crossed the frost-line., Comment: 19 Figures, 5 Tables. Accepted for publication in Icarus journal on 29 February 2016

Published
2016
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5. The optical design of the MAJIS instrument on board of the JUICE mission

Author

Guerri, Irene, primary, Fabbri, Anna, primary, Tommasi, Leonardo, primary, Amoroso, Marilena, primary, Mugnuolo, Raffaele, primary, Filacchione, Gianrico, primary, Fonti, Sergio, primary, Piccioni, Giuseppe, primary, Saggin, Bortolino, primary, Tosi, Federico, primary, Zambelli, Massimo, primary, and Taiti, Alessio, primary

Published
2018
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6. The Advanced Optical and Thermomechanical Design of the JUICE/MAJIS Spectrometer

Author

Tommasi, Leonardo, primary, Bugetti, Giulio, additional, Fabbri, Anna, additional, Guerri, Irene, additional, Tonetti, Nazzareno, additional, Amoroso, Marilena, additional, Mugnuolo, Raffaele, additional, Piccioni, Giuseppe, additional, Filacchione, Gianrico, additional, Fonti, Sergio, additional, Saggin, Bortolino, additional, Tosi, Federico, additional, Zambelli, Massimo, additional, Bocchini, Luca, additional, De Palo, Savino, additional, Giraudo, Martina, additional, and Perotto, Valter, additional

Published
2018
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7. Seasonal effects on the nucleus of comet 67P revealed by Rosetta/VIRTIS

Author

TOSI, Federico, CAPACCIONI, FABRIZIO, FILACCHIONE, GIANRICO, Erard, Stéphane, Rouseeau, Batiste, Combe, Jean-Philippe, CAPRIA, MARIA TERESA, Leyrat, Cédric, LONGOBARDO, ANDREA, Bockelée-Morvan, Dominique, Kappel, David, Arnold, Gabriele, Fonti, Sergio, MANCARELLA, FRANCESCA, Kuehrt, Ekkehard, Mottola, Stefano, ITA, USA, FRA, and DEU

Subjects
Asteroiden und Kometen, 67P, Leitungsbereich PF, Rosetta, temperature, VIRTIS
Abstract

We describe thermal effects on the nucleus of comet 67P. Due to the overall low thermal inertia of the nucleus surface, the surface temperature is essentially dominated by the instantaneous value of the solar incidence angle and the heliocentric distance. However, for each location, the smallest achievable value of insolation angle depends on the season and topography. Given the substantial obliquity of comet 67P, seasons are such that the northern hemisphere is mainly illuminated at aphelion while the southern hemisphere receives most insolation soon after perihelion. In addition, the heliocentric distance strongly affects the surface temperature, all other parameters being equal. This is a larger effect in comets than in asteroids, due to the wide range of heliocentric distance values spanned by comets. When Rosetta started its global mapping observation campaign, in early August 2014, hyperspectral images acquired by the VIRTIS imaging spectrometer onboard the Rosetta Orbiter covered only the northern regions of the cometary surface, and the equatorial belt became gradually unveiled, while the southern region has been revealed from 2015 onwards. In parallel, the comet’s heliocentric distance has been decreasing from 3.6 AU down to 1.24 AU, the distance at which the perihelion passage occurred on 13 August 2015. By relating surface temperatures as measured by VIRTIS to three variables: solar incidence angle, true local solar time and heliocentric distance, we aim to separate the relative contributions due to season and to the heliocentric distance. To do this, we use both VIRTIS-M data (namely data from the mapping spectrometer covering the 1-5 µm range, available up to April 2015, i.e. before the failure of the IR cryocooler) and VIRTIS-H data (namely data from the high-resolution point spectrometer covering the 2-5 µm range), and we focus in particular on three regions: one in the northern hemisphere, one in the equatorial region and one in the southern hemisphere. These three regions are chosen so as to be relatively smooth at the spatial resolution that is achieved from a distance of about 100 km (25 m/px for VIRTIS-M, 50x150 m/px for VIRTIS-H), in order to limit the effects of large-scale surface roughness. Acknowledgements: The authors would like to thank the following institutions and agencies, which supported this work: Italian Space Agency (ASI - Italy), Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales (CNES- France), Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt (DLR-Germany), National Aeronautic and Space Administration (NASA-USA) Rosetta Program, Science and Technology Facilities Council (UK). VIRTIS has been built by a consortium, which includes Italy, France and Germany, under the scientific responsibility of the Istituto di Astrofisica e Planetologia Spaziali of INAF, Italy, which guides also the scientific operations. The VIRTIS instrument development has been funded and managed by ASI, with contributions from Observatoire de Meudon financed by CNES, and from DLR. The computational resources used in this research have been supplied by INAF-IAPS through the DataWell project.

Published
2016

8. OH Dichroic Radiation Test Report

Author

STEFANI, STEFANIA, ZAMBELLI, MASSIMO, Fonti, Sergio, BOCCACCINI, Angelo, ITA, Filacchione, Gianrico, and Piccioni, Giuseppe

Abstract

The scope of these tests is to study the performance and eventually to identify any possible degradation of the dichroic after the radiation tests. The sample has been exposed at a total electron dose of 100 krad in two steps. The electron dose has been obtained at the e-LINAC, a facility of the Azienda Ospedaliera di Terni” (AOT). The tests have been performed on May 17th 2015 and June 6th 2015. The optical performances of the dichroic has been measured by using a Fourier Transform InfraRed (FT-IR) spectrometer and a Perkin Elmer Lamda. The spectral transmittance and reflectance was obtained in the spectral range of interest from 0.3 to 8 μm.

Published
2016

10. The global surface composition of 67P/CG nucleus by Rosetta/VIRTIS. (I) Prelanding mission phase

Author

Filacchione, Gianrico, primary, Capaccioni, Fabrizio, additional, Ciarniello, Mauro, additional, Raponi, Andrea, additional, Tosi, Federico, additional, De Sanctis, Maria Cristina, additional, Erard, Stéphane, additional, Morvan, Dominique Bockelée, additional, Leyrat, Cedric, additional, Arnold, Gabriele, additional, Schmitt, Bernard, additional, Quirico, Eric, additional, Piccioni, Giuseppe, additional, Migliorini, Alessandra, additional, Capria, Maria Teresa, additional, Palomba, Ernesto, additional, Cerroni, Priscilla, additional, Longobardo, Andrea, additional, Barucci, Antonella, additional, Fornasier, Sonia, additional, Carlson, Robert W., additional, Jaumann, Ralf, additional, Stephan, Katrin, additional, Moroz, Lyuba V., additional, Kappel, David, additional, Rousseau, Batiste, additional, Fonti, Sergio, additional, Mancarella, Francesca, additional, Despan, Daniela, additional, and Faure, Mathilde, additional

Published
2016
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13. SEM morphological studies of carbonates and the search for ancient life on Mars

Author

Sergio Fonti, A. Galiano, F. Mancarella, Armando Blanco, Franco Russo, Adriano Guido, M. D'Elia, Vincenzo Orofino, Adelaide Mastandrea, D'Elia, Marcella, Blanco, Armando, Galiano, A., Orofino, Vincenzo, Fonti, Sergio, Mancarella, Francesca, Guido, A., Russo, F., and Mastandrea, A.

Subjects
Martian, 010504 meteorology & atmospheric sciences, Physics and Astronomy (miscellaneous), Carbonate minerals, Mars Exploration Program, Life on Mars, 01 natural sciences, Abiogenic petroleum origin, Astrobiology, chemistry.chemical_compound, Extant taxon, chemistry, Space and Planetary Science, 0103 physical sciences, Earth and Planetary Sciences (miscellaneous), Biogenic carbonate, Carbonate, 010303 astronomy & astrophysics, Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics, Geology, 0105 earth and related environmental sciences
Abstract

Next space missions will investigate the possibility of extinct or extant life on Mars. Studying the infrared spectral modifications, induced by thermal processing on different carbonate samples (recent shells and fossils of different ages), we developed a method able to discriminate biogenic carbonates from their abiogenic counterparts. The method has been successfully applied to microbialites, i.e. bio-induced carbonates deposits, and particularly to stromatolites, the laminated fabric of microbialites, some of which can be ascribed to among the oldest traces of biological activity known on Earth. These results are of valuable importance since such carbonates are linked to primitive living organisms that can be considered as good analogues for putative Martian life forms. Considering that the microstructures of biogenic carbonate are different from those of abiogenic origin, we investigated the micromorphology of shells, skeletal grains and microbialites at different scale with a scanning electron microscope. The results show that this line of research may provide an alternative and complementary approach to other techniques developed in the past by our group to distinguish biotic from abiotic carbonates. In this paper, we present some results that can be of valuable interest since they demonstrate the utility for a database of images concerning the structures and textures of relevant carbonate minerals. Such data may be useful for the analysis of Martian samples, coming from sample return missions or investigated by futurein situexplorations, aimed to characterize the near-subsurface of Mars in search for past or present life.

Published
2016
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14. Refractory and semi-volatile organics at the surface of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko: Insights from the VIRTIS/Rosetta imaging spectrometer

Author

Quirico, E, Moroz, LV, Schmitt, B, Arnold, G, Faure, M, Beck, P, Bonal, L, Ciarniello, M, Capaccioni, F, Filacchione, G, Erard, S, Leyrat, C, Bockelee-Morvan, D, Zinzi, A, Palomba, E, Drossart, P, Tosi, F, Capria, MT, De Sanctis, MC, Raponi, A, Fonti, S, Mancarella, F, Orofino, V, Barucci, A, Blecka, MI, Carlson, R, Despan, D, Faure, A, Fornasier, S, Gudipati, MS, Longobardo, A, Markus, K, Mennella, V, Merlin, F, Piccioni, G, Rousseau, B, Taylor, F, Team, Rosetta VIRTIS, Institut de Planétologie et d'Astrophysique de Grenoble (IPAG), Centre National d'Études Spatiales [Toulouse] (CNES)-Université Grenoble Alpes (UGA)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Observatoire des Sciences de l'Univers de Grenoble (OSUG), Université Savoie Mont Blanc (USMB [Université de Savoie] [Université de Chambéry])-Institut polytechnique de Grenoble - Grenoble Institute of Technology (Grenoble INP)-Institut national de recherche en sciences et technologies pour l'environnement et l'agriculture (IRSTEA)-Université Joseph Fourier - Grenoble 1 (UJF)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université Grenoble Alpes (UGA)-Université Savoie Mont Blanc (USMB [Université de Savoie] [Université de Chambéry])-Institut polytechnique de Grenoble - Grenoble Institute of Technology (Grenoble INP)-Institut national de recherche en sciences et technologies pour l'environnement et l'agriculture (IRSTEA)-Université Joseph Fourier - Grenoble 1 (UJF)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), DLR Institut für Planetenforschung, Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt [Berlin] (DLR), Centre de physique moléculaire optique et hertzienne (CPMOH), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université Sciences et Technologies - Bordeaux 1, Istituto di Astrofisica e Planetologia Spaziali - INAF (IAPS), Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica (INAF), Istituto di Astrofisica Spaziale e Fisica cosmica - Roma (IASF-Roma), Laboratoire d'études spatiales et d'instrumentation en astrophysique (LESIA), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université Paris Diderot - Paris 7 (UPD7)-Observatoire de Paris, PSL Research University (PSL)-PSL Research University (PSL)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Université Pierre et Marie Curie - Paris 6 (UPMC), Agenzia Spaziale Italiana (ASI), Dipartimento di Fisica, Università degli studi di Lecce, Department of Physics [Lecce], Università del Salento [Lecce], Laboratoire de Planétologie et Géodynamique UMR6112 (LPG), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Université de Nantes - Faculté des Sciences et des Techniques, Université de Nantes (UN)-Université de Nantes (UN)-Université d'Angers (UA), JDS Uniphase/Cronos, USA, JDS Uniphase/Cronos, Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Centre National d'Études Spatiales [Toulouse] (CNES)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Observatoire des Sciences de l'Univers de Grenoble (OSUG ), Institut polytechnique de Grenoble - Grenoble Institute of Technology (Grenoble INP )-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Institut national de recherche en sciences et technologies pour l'environnement et l'agriculture (IRSTEA)-Université Savoie Mont Blanc (USMB [Université de Savoie] [Université de Chambéry])-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université Grenoble Alpes [2016-2019] (UGA [2016-2019])-Institut polytechnique de Grenoble - Grenoble Institute of Technology (Grenoble INP )-Institut national de recherche en sciences et technologies pour l'environnement et l'agriculture (IRSTEA)-Université Savoie Mont Blanc (USMB [Université de Savoie] [Université de Chambéry])-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université Grenoble Alpes [2016-2019] (UGA [2016-2019]), Université Sciences et Technologies - Bordeaux 1 (UB)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Université Pierre et Marie Curie - Paris 6 (UPMC)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Observatoire de Paris, Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris Diderot - Paris 7 (UPD7)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Laboratoire de Planétologie et Géodynamique [UMR 6112] (LPG), Université d'Angers (UA)-Université de Nantes - UFR des Sciences et des Techniques (UN UFR ST), Université de Nantes (UN)-Université de Nantes (UN)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), E., Quirico, L. V., Moroz, B., Schmitt, G., Arnold, M., Faure, P., Beck, L., Bonal, M., Ciarniello, F., Capaccioni, G., Filacchione, S., Erard, C., Leyrat, D., Bockelée Morvan, A., Zinzi, E., Palomba, P., Drossart, F., Tosi, M. T., Capria, M. C., De Sancti, A., Raponi, Fonti, Sergio, Mancarella, Francesca, Orofino, Vincenzo, A., Barucci, M. I., Blecka, R., Carlson, D., Despan, A., Faure, S., Fornasier, M. S., Gudipati, A., Longobardo, K., Marku, V., Mennella, F., Merlin, G., Piccioni, B., Rousseau, F., Taylor, ITA, USA, GBR, FRA, DEU, and POL

Subjects
Solar System, Institut für Erd- und Umweltwissenschaften, Materials science, 010504 meteorology & atmospheric sciences, Infrared, Comet, Imaging spectrometer, Organic chemistry, 01 natural sciences, Spectral line, Astrobiology, Chondrite, 0103 physical sciences, Comets, 010303 astronomy & astrophysics, ComputingMilieux_MISCELLANEOUS, 0105 earth and related environmental sciences, [PHYS]Physics [physics], Infrared observations, Interstellar ice, Astronomy and Astrophysics, Spectrophotometry, 13. Climate action, Space and Planetary Science, Absorption band, [PHYS.ASTR]Physics [physics]/Astrophysics [astro-ph], Meteorites
Abstract

The VIRTIS (Visible, Infrared and Thermal Imaging Spectrometer) instrument aboard the Rosetta spacecraft has performed extensive spectral mapping of the surface of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko in the range 0.3-5 mu m. The reflectance spectra collected across the surface display a low reflectance factor over the whole spectral range, two spectral slopes in the visible and near-infrared ranges and a broad absorption band centered at 3.2 mu m. The first two of these characteristics are typical of dark small bodies of the Solar System and are difficult to interpret in terms of composition. Moreover, solar wind irradiation may modify the structure and composition of surface materials and there is no unequivocal interpretation of these spectra devoid of vibrational bands. To circumvent these problems, we consider the composition of cometary grains analyzed in the laboratory to constrain the nature of the cometary materials and consider results on surface rejuvenation and solar wind processing provided by the OSIRIS and ROSINA instruments, respectively. Our results lead to five main conclusions: (i) The low albedo of comet 67P/CG is accounted for by a dark refractory polyaromatic carbonaceous component mixed with opaque minerals. VIRTIS data do not provide direct insights into the nature of these opaque minerals. However, according to the composition of cometary grains analyzed in the laboratory, we infer that they consist of Fe-Ni alloys and FeS sulfides. (ii) A semi-volatile component, consisting of a complex mix of low weight molecular species not volatilized at T similar to 220 K, is likely a major carrier of the 3.2 p.m band. Water ice contributes significantly to this feature in the neck region but not in other regions of the comet. COOH in carboxylic acids is the only chemical group that encompasses the broad width of this feature. It appears as a highly plausible candidate along with the NH4+ ion. (iii) Photolytic/thermal residues, produced in the laboratory from interstellar ice analogs, are potentially good spectral analogs. (iv) No hydrated minerals were identified and our data support the lack of genetic links with the CI, CR and CM primitive chondrites. This concerns in particular the Orgueil chondrite, previously suspected to have been of cometary origin. (v) The comparison between fresh and aged terrains revealed no effect of solar wind irradiation on the 3.2 mu m band. This is consistent with the presence of efficient resurfacing processes such as dust transport from the interior to the surface, as revealed by the OSIRIS camera. (C) 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Published
2016
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15. Exposed water ice on the nucleus of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko

Author

Giancarlo Bellucci, Katrin Stephan, Yves Langevin, Sergio Fonti, G. Peter, Gianrico Filacchione, Ulrich Schade, G. P. Tozzi, Jacques Crovisier, Costanzo Federico, Eleonora Ammannito, M. I. Blecka, S. Jacquinod, Jean-Michel Reess, M. Cartacci, Michael R. Combi, Vito Mennella, Federico Tosi, Marcello Fulchignoni, Armando Blanco, Giuseppe Piccioni, Roberto Orosei, Bernard Schmitt, Andrea Longobardo, Giovanna Rinaldi, Ralf Jaumann, Vincenzo Orofino, Alessandra Migliorini, Andrea Raponi, Pierre Drossart, M. Combes, David Kappel, Mauro Ciarniello, D. Despan, Murthy S. Gudipati, C. Leyrat, T. Encrenaz, Ernesto Palomba, Andrea Cicchetti, Fabrizio Capaccioni, Michelangelo Formisano, Maria Teresa Capria, Romolo Politi, Dominique Bockelée-Morvan, Stefano Mottola, Enrico Flamini, Pierre Beck, L. Moroz, Gianfranco Magni, U. Fink, Eric Quirico, Fredric W. Taylor, Sonia Fornasier, J-Ph. Combe, F. Merlin, Jean-Pierre Bibring, N. Biver, M. C. De Sanctis, Florence Henry, Uri Carsenty, M. A. Barucci, Gabriele Arnold, Y. Hello, Patrick G. J. Irwin, R. W. Carlson, Wing-Huen Ip, E. Kuehrt, Kathrin Markus, Davide Grassi, S. Giuppi, Raffaella Noschese, Alessandro Frigeri, F. Mancarella, Stéphane Erard, Luigi Colangeli, Lydie Bonal, T. B. McCord, J. Benkhoff, D. Tiphene, Priscilla Cerroni, G., Filacchione, M. C., De Sancti, F., Capaccioni, A., Raponi, F., Tosi, M., Ciarniello, P., Cerroni, G., Piccioni, M. T., Capria, E., Palomba, G., Bellucci, S., Erard, D., Bockelee Morvan, C., Leyrat, G., Arnold, M. A., Barucci, M., Fulchignoni, B., Schmitt, E., Quirico, R., Jaumann, K., Stephan, A., Longobardo, V., Mennella, A., Migliorini, E., Ammannito, J., Benkhoff, J. P., Bibring, Blanco, Armando, M. I., Blecka, R., Carlson, U., Carsenty, L., Colangeli, M., Combe, M., Combi, J., Crovisier, P., Drossart, T., Encrenaz, C., Federico, U., Fink, Fonti, Sergio, W. H., Ip, P., Irwin, E., Kuehrt, Y., Langevin, G., Magni, T., Mccord, L., Moroz, S., Mottola, Orofino, Vincenzo, U., Schade, F., Taylor, D., Tiphene, G. P., Tozzi, P., Beck, N., Biver, L., Bonal, Combe, J. P. h., D., Despan, E., Flamini, M., Formisano, S., Fornasier, A., Frigeri, D., Grassi, M. S., Gudipati, D., Kappel, Mancarella, Francesca, K., Marku, F., Merlin, R., Orosei, G., Rinaldi, M., Cartacci, A., Cicchetti, S., Giuppi, Y., Hello, F., Henry, S., Jacquinod, J. M., Ree, R., Noschese, R., Politi, G., Peter, Istituto di Astrofisica e Planetologia Spaziali - INAF (IAPS), Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica (INAF), Max-Planck-Institut für Kernphysik (MPIK), Max-Planck-Gesellschaft, Istituto di Astrofisica Spaziale e Fisica cosmica - Roma (IASF-Roma), Istituto di Fisica dello Spazio Interplanetario (IFSI), National Research Council of Italy | Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Laboratoire d'études spatiales et d'instrumentation en astrophysique (LESIA), Université Pierre et Marie Curie - Paris 6 (UPMC)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Observatoire de Paris, Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris Diderot - Paris 7 (UPD7)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Laboratoire de Physique et Mécanique Textiles (LPMT), Université de Haute-Alsace (UHA) Mulhouse - Colmar (Université de Haute-Alsace (UHA))-Matériaux et Nanosciences Grand-Est (MNGE), Université de Strasbourg (UNISTRA)-Université de Haute-Alsace (UHA) Mulhouse - Colmar (Université de Haute-Alsace (UHA))-Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM)-Institut de Chimie du CNRS (INC)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université de Strasbourg (UNISTRA)-Université de Haute-Alsace (UHA) Mulhouse - Colmar (Université de Haute-Alsace (UHA))-Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM)-Institut de Chimie du CNRS (INC)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Institut de Planétologie et d'Astrophysique de Grenoble (IPAG), Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Centre National d'Études Spatiales [Toulouse] (CNES)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Observatoire des Sciences de l'Univers de Grenoble (OSUG ), Institut polytechnique de Grenoble - Grenoble Institute of Technology (Grenoble INP )-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Institut national de recherche en sciences et technologies pour l'environnement et l'agriculture (IRSTEA)-Université Savoie Mont Blanc (USMB [Université de Savoie] [Université de Chambéry])-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université Grenoble Alpes [2016-2019] (UGA [2016-2019])-Institut polytechnique de Grenoble - Grenoble Institute of Technology (Grenoble INP )-Institut national de recherche en sciences et technologies pour l'environnement et l'agriculture (IRSTEA)-Université Savoie Mont Blanc (USMB [Université de Savoie] [Université de Chambéry])-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université Grenoble Alpes [2016-2019] (UGA [2016-2019]), German Aerospace Center (DLR), Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt (DLR), European Space Research and Technology Centre (ESTEC), Agence Spatiale Européenne = European Space Agency (ESA), Institut d'astrophysique spatiale (IAS), Université Paris-Sud - Paris 11 (UP11)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Centre National d’Études Spatiales [Paris] (CNES), Polska Akademia Nauk = Polish Academy of Sciences (PAN), Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), NASA-California Institute of Technology (CALTECH), INAF - Osservatorio Astronomico di Capodimonte (OAC), Department of Atmospheric, Oceanic, and Space Sciences [Ann Arbor] (AOSS), University of Michigan [Ann Arbor], University of Michigan System-University of Michigan System, Instituto de Estudos Avançados (IEAV), Institut, Lunar and Planetary Laboratory [Tucson] (LPL), University of Arizona, Dipartimento di Fisica, Università degli studi di Lecce, Institute of Space Science [Taiwan], National Central University [Taiwan] (NCU), Department of Physics [Oxford], University of Oxford, Department of Earth and Space Sciences [Seattle], University of Washington [Seattle], DLR Institute of Planetary Research, Department of Physics [Lecce], Università del Salento [Lecce], INAF - Osservatorio Astrofisico di Arcetri (OAA), Laboratoire de Planétologie et Géodynamique [UMR 6112] (LPG), Université d'Angers (UA)-Université de Nantes - UFR des Sciences et des Techniques (UN UFR ST), Université de Nantes (UN)-Université de Nantes (UN)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Alenia Aerospazio, DLR Institut für Planetenforschung, Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt [Berlin] (DLR), JDS Uniphase/Cronos, USA, JDS Uniphase/Cronos, CNR-IASF, Istituti di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Observatoire de la Côte d'Azur (OCA), Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Laboratoire d’Océanologie et de Géosciences (LOG) - UMR 8187 (LOG), Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Université du Littoral Côte d'Opale (ULCO)-Université de Lille-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD [France-Nord]), Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université Paris Diderot - Paris 7 (UPD7)-Observatoire de Paris, PSL Research University (PSL)-PSL Research University (PSL)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Université Pierre et Marie Curie - Paris 6 (UPMC), Université de Haute-Alsace (UHA) Mulhouse - Colmar (Université de Haute-Alsace (UHA))-ENSITM-Matériaux et nanosciences d'Alsace, Université de Strasbourg (UNISTRA)-Université de Haute-Alsace (UHA) Mulhouse - Colmar (Université de Haute-Alsace (UHA))-Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université de Strasbourg (UNISTRA)-Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Centre National d'Études Spatiales [Toulouse] (CNES)-Université Grenoble Alpes (UGA)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Observatoire des Sciences de l'Univers de Grenoble (OSUG), Université Savoie Mont Blanc (USMB [Université de Savoie] [Université de Chambéry])-Institut polytechnique de Grenoble - Grenoble Institute of Technology (Grenoble INP)-Institut national de recherche en sciences et technologies pour l'environnement et l'agriculture (IRSTEA)-Université Joseph Fourier - Grenoble 1 (UJF)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université Grenoble Alpes (UGA)-Université Savoie Mont Blanc (USMB [Université de Savoie] [Université de Chambéry])-Institut polytechnique de Grenoble - Grenoble Institute of Technology (Grenoble INP)-Institut national de recherche en sciences et technologies pour l'environnement et l'agriculture (IRSTEA)-Université Joseph Fourier - Grenoble 1 (UJF)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), European Space Agency (ESA), Université Paris-Sud - Paris 11 (UP11)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Polska Akademia Nauk (PAN), University of Oxford [Oxford], Laboratoire de Planétologie et Géodynamique UMR6112 (LPG), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Université de Nantes - Faculté des Sciences et des Techniques, Université de Nantes (UN)-Université de Nantes (UN)-Université d'Angers (UA), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Université de Lille-Université du Littoral Côte d'Opale-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), ENSITM-Université de Haute-Alsace (UHA) Mulhouse - Colmar (Université de Haute-Alsace (UHA))-Matériaux et nanosciences d'Alsace (FMNGE), Institut de Chimie du CNRS (INC)-Université de Strasbourg (UNISTRA)-Université de Haute-Alsace (UHA) Mulhouse - Colmar (Université de Haute-Alsace (UHA))-Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut de Chimie du CNRS (INC)-Université de Strasbourg (UNISTRA)-Université de Haute-Alsace (UHA) Mulhouse - Colmar (Université de Haute-Alsace (UHA))-Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), and Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Université du Littoral Côte d'Opale (ULCO)-Université de Lille-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)

Subjects
Materials science, 010504 meteorology & atmospheric sciences, Extraterrestrial Environment, Comet, Mineralogy, comet 67P, 01 natural sciences, water ice, Astrobiology, Diffusion, 0103 physical sciences, Rosetta, medicine, Diffusion (business), 010303 astronomy & astrophysics, ComputingMilieux_MISCELLANEOUS, 0105 earth and related environmental sciences, [PHYS]Physics [physics], Multidisciplinary, Meteoroid, Spectrum Analysis, Ice, food and beverages, Meteoroids, VIRTIS, Debris, Asteroids, Grain growth, medicine.anatomical_structure, 13. Climate action, comets and Kuiper belt Early solar system, Gases, Layering, [PHYS.ASTR]Physics [physics]/Astrophysics [astro-ph], Nucleus, Water vapor
Abstract

Although water vapour is the main species observed in the coma of comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko1, 2 and water is the major constituent of cometary nuclei3, 4, limited evidence for exposed water-ice regions on the surface of the nucleus has been found so far5, 6. The absence of large regions of exposed water ice seems a common finding on the surfaces of many of the comets observed so far7, 8, 9. The nucleus of 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko appears to be fairly uniformly coated with dark, dehydrated, refractory and organic-rich material10. Here we report the identification at infrared wavelengths of water ice on two debris falls in the Imhotep region of the nucleus. The ice has been exposed on the walls of elevated structures and at the base of the walls. A quantitative derivation of the abundance of ice in these regions indicates the presence of millimetre-sized pure water-ice grains, considerably larger than in all previous observations6, 7, 8, 9. Although micrometre-sized water-ice grains are the usual result of vapour recondensation in ice-free layers6, the occurrence of millimetre-sized grains of pure ice as observed in the Imhotep debris falls is best explained by grain growth by vapour diffusion in ice-rich layers, or by sintering. As a consequence of these processes, the nucleus can develop an extended and complex coating in which the outer dehydrated crust10 is superimposed on layers enriched in water ice. The stratigraphy observed on 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko11, 12 is therefore the result of evolutionary processes affecting the uppermost metres of the nucleus and does not necessarily require a global layering to have occurred at the time of the comet’s formation.

Published
2016
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