Small aromatic molecules, including functionalized derivatives of benzene, are known to be present throughout the different stages of star and planet formation. In particular, oxygen-bearing monosubstituted aromatics, likely including phenol, […]
Comet 67P
Posted inAstrochemistry, Astrogeology, Astronomy & Telescopes, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Interstellar, Press Release
Space Dust Is Spongier Than We Thought
Cosmic dust – the tiny particles that help form stars, planets and the chemical building blocks of life – might be much spongier and fluffier than long assumed, according to […]
Posted inAstrochemistry, Astrogeology, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Comets and Asteroids, Icy Worlds, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Status Report
A Nearly Terrestrial D/H For Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko
Cometary comae are a mixture of gas and ice-covered dust. Processing on the surface and in the coma change the composition of ice on dust grains relative to that of […]
Posted inAstrochemistry, Astrogeology, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Comets and Asteroids, Icy Worlds, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Missions & Hardware, Press Release
NASA-Led Team Links Comet Water to Earth’s Oceans
Scientists find that cometary dust affects interpretation of spacecraft measurements, reopening the case for comets like 67P as potential sources of water for early Earth.
Posted inAstrochemistry, Astrogeology, Comets and Asteroids, Icy Worlds, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Status Report
Varying Water Activity and Momentum Transfer on Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko From its non-gravitational Forces and Torques
We investigate the ability of a simultaneous fitting of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko’s non-gravitational forces, torques and total water-outgassing rate, as observed by Rosetta, to constrain complex thermophysical models of cometary material.
Posted inAstrochemistry, Astrogeology, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Comets and Asteroids, Icy Worlds, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Missions & Hardware, Status Report, Tricorders & Sensors
A Cometary Landcape Covered With Organic Chemicals
Editor’s note: according to “Organic compounds on comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko revealed by COSAC mass spectrometry” – “Comets harbor the most pristine material in our solar system in the form of ice, […]
Posted inAstrochemistry, Astrogeology, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Comets and Asteroids, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Status Report
Volatiles In The H2O and CO2 Ices Of Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko
ESA’s Rosetta spacecraft at comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko (67P) was the first mission that accompanied a comet over a substantial fraction of its orbit.
Posted inAstrochemistry, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Comets and Asteroids, Press Release
Neutral-Neutral Synthesis of Organic Molecules in Cometary Comae
Remote and in-situ observations of cometary gases have revealed the presence of a wealth of complex organic molecules, including carbon chains, alcohols, imines and the amino acid glycine. Such chemical […]
Posted inAstrochemistry, Comets and Asteroids, Press Release
Puzzle About Nitrogen Solved Thanks to Cometary Analogues
Comets and asteroids are objects in our solar system that have not developed much since the planets were formed. As a result, they are in a sense the archives of […]
Posted inAstrochemistry, Comets and Asteroids, Press Release
The Origin Of O2 And Other Volatile Species In Comets
Molecular oxygen, O2, was recently detected in comet 67P by the ROSINA instrument on board the Rosetta spacecraft with a surprisingly high abundance of 4 % relative to H2O, making […]