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    Molecular nitrogen in comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko indicates a low formation temperature

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    Rubin(2015).pdf (310.9Kb)
    Authors
    Rubin, M.
    Altwegg, K.
    Balsiger, H.
    Bar-Nun, A.
    Berthelier, J.-J.
    Bieler, A.
    Bochsler, P.
    Briois, C.
    Calmonte, U.
    Combi, M.
    De Keyser, J.
    Dhooghe, F.
    Eberhardt, P.
    Fiethe, B.
    Fuselier, S.A.
    Gasc, S.
    Gombosi, T.I.
    Hansen, K.C.
    Hassig, M.
    Jackel, A.
    Kopp, E.
    Korth, A.
    Le Roy, L.
    Mall, U.
    Marty, B.
    Mousis, O.
    Owen, T.
    Reme, H.
    Semon, T.
    Tzou, C.-Y.
    Waite, J.H.
    Wurz, P.
    Show allShow less
    Discipline
    Chemical sciences
    Subject
    carbon dioxide
    carbon monoxide
    ice
    nitrogen
    water
    comet
    low temperature
    mass spectrometry
    nitrogen
    Pluto
    solar system
    spacecraft
    Triton
    Article
    astronomy
    circadian rhythm
    comet 67p
    cosmological phenomena
    latitude
    low temperature
    mass spectrometer
    mass spectrometry
    priority journal
    protosolar ratio
    rotation
    space flight
    thermodynamics
    water vapor
    Audience
    Scientific
    Date
    2015
    Metadata
    Show full item record
    Description
    Molecular nitrogen (N2) is thought to have been the most abundant form of nitrogen in the protosolar nebula. It is the main N-bearing molecule in the atmospheres of Pluto and Triton and probably the main nitrogen reservoir from which the giant planets formed. Yet in comets, often considered the most primitive bodies in the solar system, N2 has not been detected. Here we report the direct in situ measurement of N2 in the Jupiter family comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko, made by the Rosetta Orbiter Spectrometer for Ion and Neutral Analysis mass spectrometer aboard the Rosetta spacecraft. A N2/CO ratio of Embedded Image (2σ standard deviation of the sampled mean) corresponds to depletion by a factor of ~25.4 ± 8.9 as compared to the protosolar value. This depletion suggests that cometary grains formed at low-temperature conditions below ~30 kelvin.
    Citation
    Rubin, M.; Altwegg, K.; Balsiger, H.; Bar-Nun, A.; Berthelier, J.-J.; Bieler, A.; Bochsler, P.; Briois, C.; Calmonte, U.; Combi, M.; De Keyser, J.; Dhooghe, F.; Eberhardt, P.; Fiethe, B.; Fuselier, S.A.; Gasc, S.; Gombosi, T.I.; Hansen, K.C.; Hassig, M.; Jackel, A.; Kopp, E.; Korth, A.; Le Roy, L.; Mall, U.; Marty, B.; Mousis, O.; Owen, T.; Reme, H.; Semon, T.; Tzou, C.-Y.; Waite, J.H.; Wurz, P. (2015). Molecular nitrogen in comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko indicates a low formation temperature. , Science, Vol. 348, Issue 6231, 232-235, DOI: 10.1126/science.aaa6100.
    Identifiers
    uri: https://orfeo.belnet.be/handle/internal/2759
    doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.aaa6100
    scopus: 2-s2.0-84927630657
    Type
    Article
    Peer-Review
    Yes
    Language
    eng
    Links
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