Temporal morphological changes in the Imhotep region of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko

O. Groussin; H. Sierks; C. Barbieri; P. Lamy; R. Rodrigo; D. Koschny; H. Rickman; H. U. Keller; M. F. A'Hearn; A. T. Auger; M. A. Barucci; J. L. Bertaux; I. Bertini; S. Besse; G. Cremonese; V. Da Deppo; B. Davidsson; S. Debei; M. De Cecco; M. R. El-Maarry; S. Fornasier; M. Fulle; P. J. Gutiérrez; C. Güttler; S. Hviid; W. H. Ip; L. Jorda; J. Knollenberg; G. Kovacs; J. R. Kramm; E. Kührt; M. Küppers; L. M. Lara; M. Lazzarin; J. J. Lopez Moreno; S. Lowry; S. Marchi; F. Marzari; M. Massironi; S. Mottola; G. Naletto; N. Oklay; M. Pajola; A. Pommerol; N. Thomas; I. Toth; C. Tubiana; J. B. Vincent

doi:10.1051/0004-6361/201527020

Temporal morphological changes in the Imhotep region of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko

O. Groussin
, H. Sierks
, C. Barbieri
, P. Lamy
, R. Rodrigo
, D. Koschny
, H. Rickman
, H. U. Keller
, M. F. A'Hearn
, A. T. Auger
, M. A. Barucci
, J. L. Bertaux
, I. Bertini
, S. Besse
, G. Cremonese
, V. Da Deppo
, B. Davidsson
, S. Debei
, M. De Cecco
, M. R. El-Maarry

S. Fornasier, M. Fulle, P. J. Gutiérrez, C. Güttler, S. Hviid, W. H. Ip, L. Jorda, J. Knollenberg, G. Kovacs, J. R. Kramm, E. Kührt, M. Küppers, L. M. Lara, M. Lazzarin, J. J. Lopez Moreno, S. Lowry, S. Marchi, F. Marzari, M. Massironi, S. Mottola, G. Naletto, N. Oklay, M. Pajola, A. Pommerol, N. Thomas, I. Toth, C. Tubiana, J. B. Vincent

Earth Science

Aix-Marseille Université
Max-Planck Institut für Sonnensystemforschung
University of Padova
Centro de Astrobiologia (INTA-CSIC)
International Space Science Institute
European Space Agency
Uppsala University
PAS Space Research Center
Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt (DLR)
Technische Universität Braunschweig
University of Maryland, College Park
Universite Paris Sud
LESIA - Laboratoire d'Etudes Spatiales et d'Instrumentation en Astrophysique
CNRS Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
CNR-IFN UOS Padova LUXOR
University of Trento
INAF - Osservatorio Astronomico di Trieste
Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía (CSIC)
National Central University
European Space Astronomy Centre
University of Kent
Southwest Research Institute
INAF Osservatorio Astronomico di Padova
University of Bern
MTA CSFK Konkoly Observatory

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

70 Scopus citations

Abstract

Aims. We report on the first major temporal morphological changes observed on the surface of the nucleus of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko in the smooth terrains of the Imhotep region. Methods. We used images of the OSIRIS cameras onboard Rosetta to follow the temporal changes from 24 May 2015 to 11 July 2015. Results. The morphological changes observed on the surface are visible in the form of roundish features that are growing in size from a given location in a preferential direction at a rate of 5.6-8.1 × 10^-5 m s^-1 during the observational period. The location where the changes started and the contours of the expanding features are bluer than the surroundings, which suggests that ices (H₂O and/or CO₂) are exposed on the surface. However, sublimation of ices alone is not sufficient to explain the observed expanding features. No significant variations in the dust activity pattern are observed during the period of changes.

Original language	British English
Article number	A36
Journal	Astronomy and Astrophysics
Volume	583
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201527020
State	Published - 1 Nov 2015

Keywords

Comets: general
Comets: individual: 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko
Methods: data analysis

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10.1051/0004-6361/201527020

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Groussin, O., Sierks, H., Barbieri, C., Lamy, P., Rodrigo, R., Koschny, D., Rickman, H., Keller, H. U., A'Hearn, M. F., Auger, A. T., Barucci, M. A., Bertaux, J. L., Bertini, I., Besse, S., Cremonese, G., Da Deppo, V., Davidsson, B., Debei, S., De Cecco, M., ... Vincent, J. B. (2015). Temporal morphological changes in the Imhotep region of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. Astronomy and Astrophysics, 583, Article A36. https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201527020

@article{69075b6b331948a7b77cb09644c83a6c,

title = "Temporal morphological changes in the Imhotep region of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko",

abstract = "Aims. We report on the first major temporal morphological changes observed on the surface of the nucleus of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko in the smooth terrains of the Imhotep region. Methods. We used images of the OSIRIS cameras onboard Rosetta to follow the temporal changes from 24 May 2015 to 11 July 2015. Results. The morphological changes observed on the surface are visible in the form of roundish features that are growing in size from a given location in a preferential direction at a rate of 5.6-8.1 × 10-5 m s-1 during the observational period. The location where the changes started and the contours of the expanding features are bluer than the surroundings, which suggests that ices (H2O and/or CO2) are exposed on the surface. However, sublimation of ices alone is not sufficient to explain the observed expanding features. No significant variations in the dust activity pattern are observed during the period of changes.",

keywords = "Comets: general, Comets: individual: 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko, Methods: data analysis",

author = "O. Groussin and H. Sierks and C. Barbieri and P. Lamy and R. Rodrigo and D. Koschny and H. Rickman and Keller, \{H. U.\} and A'Hearn, \{M. F.\} and Auger, \{A. T.\} and Barucci, \{M. A.\} and Bertaux, \{J. L.\} and I. Bertini and S. Besse and G. Cremonese and \{Da Deppo\}, V. and B. Davidsson and S. Debei and \{De Cecco\}, M. and El-Maarry, \{M. R.\} and S. Fornasier and M. Fulle and Guti{\'e}rrez, \{P. J.\} and C. G{\"u}ttler and S. Hviid and Ip, \{W. H.\} and L. Jorda and J. Knollenberg and G. Kovacs and Kramm, \{J. R.\} and E. K{\"u}hrt and M. K{\"u}ppers and Lara, \{L. M.\} and M. Lazzarin and \{Lopez Moreno\}, \{J. J.\} and S. Lowry and S. Marchi and F. Marzari and M. Massironi and S. Mottola and G. Naletto and N. Oklay and M. Pajola and A. Pommerol and N. Thomas and I. Toth and C. Tubiana and Vincent, \{J. B.\}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} ESO, 2015.",

year = "2015",

month = nov,

day = "1",

doi = "10.1051/0004-6361/201527020",

language = "British English",

volume = "583",

journal = "Astronomy and Astrophysics",

issn = "0004-6361",

publisher = "EDP Sciences",

}

Groussin, O, Sierks, H, Barbieri, C, Lamy, P, Rodrigo, R, Koschny, D, Rickman, H, Keller, HU, A'Hearn, MF, Auger, AT, Barucci, MA, Bertaux, JL, Bertini, I, Besse, S, Cremonese, G, Da Deppo, V, Davidsson, B, Debei, S, De Cecco, M, El-Maarry, MR, Fornasier, S, Fulle, M, Gutiérrez, PJ, Güttler, C, Hviid, S, Ip, WH, Jorda, L, Knollenberg, J, Kovacs, G, Kramm, JR, Kührt, E, Küppers, M, Lara, LM, Lazzarin, M, Lopez Moreno, JJ, Lowry, S, Marchi, S, Marzari, F, Massironi, M, Mottola, S, Naletto, G, Oklay, N, Pajola, M, Pommerol, A, Thomas, N, Toth, I, Tubiana, C & Vincent, JB 2015, 'Temporal morphological changes in the Imhotep region of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko', Astronomy and Astrophysics, vol. 583, A36. https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201527020

TY - JOUR

T1 - Temporal morphological changes in the Imhotep region of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko

AU - Groussin, O.

AU - Sierks, H.

AU - Barbieri, C.

AU - Lamy, P.

AU - Rodrigo, R.

AU - Koschny, D.

AU - Rickman, H.

AU - Keller, H. U.

AU - A'Hearn, M. F.

AU - Auger, A. T.

AU - Barucci, M. A.

AU - Bertaux, J. L.

AU - Bertini, I.

AU - Besse, S.

AU - Cremonese, G.

AU - Da Deppo, V.

AU - Davidsson, B.

AU - Debei, S.

AU - De Cecco, M.

AU - El-Maarry, M. R.

AU - Fornasier, S.

AU - Fulle, M.

AU - Gutiérrez, P. J.

AU - Güttler, C.

AU - Hviid, S.

AU - Ip, W. H.

AU - Jorda, L.

AU - Knollenberg, J.

AU - Kovacs, G.

AU - Kramm, J. R.

AU - Kührt, E.

AU - Küppers, M.

AU - Lara, L. M.

AU - Lazzarin, M.

AU - Lopez Moreno, J. J.

AU - Lowry, S.

AU - Marchi, S.

AU - Marzari, F.

AU - Massironi, M.

AU - Mottola, S.

AU - Naletto, G.

AU - Oklay, N.

AU - Pajola, M.

AU - Pommerol, A.

AU - Thomas, N.

AU - Toth, I.

AU - Tubiana, C.

AU - Vincent, J. B.

PY - 2015/11/1

Y1 - 2015/11/1

N2 - Aims. We report on the first major temporal morphological changes observed on the surface of the nucleus of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko in the smooth terrains of the Imhotep region. Methods. We used images of the OSIRIS cameras onboard Rosetta to follow the temporal changes from 24 May 2015 to 11 July 2015. Results. The morphological changes observed on the surface are visible in the form of roundish features that are growing in size from a given location in a preferential direction at a rate of 5.6-8.1 × 10-5 m s-1 during the observational period. The location where the changes started and the contours of the expanding features are bluer than the surroundings, which suggests that ices (H2O and/or CO2) are exposed on the surface. However, sublimation of ices alone is not sufficient to explain the observed expanding features. No significant variations in the dust activity pattern are observed during the period of changes.

AB - Aims. We report on the first major temporal morphological changes observed on the surface of the nucleus of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko in the smooth terrains of the Imhotep region. Methods. We used images of the OSIRIS cameras onboard Rosetta to follow the temporal changes from 24 May 2015 to 11 July 2015. Results. The morphological changes observed on the surface are visible in the form of roundish features that are growing in size from a given location in a preferential direction at a rate of 5.6-8.1 × 10-5 m s-1 during the observational period. The location where the changes started and the contours of the expanding features are bluer than the surroundings, which suggests that ices (H2O and/or CO2) are exposed on the surface. However, sublimation of ices alone is not sufficient to explain the observed expanding features. No significant variations in the dust activity pattern are observed during the period of changes.

KW - Comets: general

KW - Comets: individual: 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko

KW - Methods: data analysis

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/84946545525

U2 - 10.1051/0004-6361/201527020

DO - 10.1051/0004-6361/201527020

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:84946545525

SN - 0004-6361

VL - 583

JO - Astronomy and Astrophysics

JF - Astronomy and Astrophysics

M1 - A36

ER -

Temporal morphological changes in the Imhotep region of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko

Abstract

Keywords

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