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9 results on '"Combe, J.-Ph."'

2. Mineralogical Analysis of Quadrangle Ac-H-10 Rongo on the Dwarf Planet Ceres

Author

ZAMBON, Francesca, CARROZZO, FILIPPO GIACOMO, TOSI, Federico, CIARNIELLO, Mauro, Combe, J. Ph., FRIGERI, ALESSANDRO, DE SANCTIS, MARIA CRISTINA, Thangjam, G., Nathues, A., Hoffmann, M., LONGOBARDO, ANDREA, Stephan, K., RAPONI, Andrea, Ammannito, E., Krohn, K., McFadden, L. A., PALOMBA, Ernesto, Raymond, C. A., Russell, C. T., Dawn Science Team, ITA, USA, and DEU

Subjects
010504 meteorology & atmospheric sciences, Dwarf planet, Geochemistry, Astronomy and Astrophysics, Crust, 01 natural sciences, Hydrothermal circulation, Dawn, chemistry.chemical_compound, Quadrangle, Impact crater, chemistry, Space and Planetary Science, Homogeneous, 0103 physical sciences, Carbonate, Ceres, Ejecta, 010303 astronomy & astrophysics, Geology, 0105 earth and related environmental sciences
Abstract

Quadrangle Ac-H-10 'Rongo' (Lat 22°S to 22°N, Lon 288°-360°E) shows a fairly homogeneous topography, with the presence of notable elevations such as Ahuna Mons, Liberalia Mons, and part of Samhain and Uhola Catenae. The deepest areas correspond to the Rongo crater region, the areas between Samhain and Uhola catenae, and the region of the quadrangle south of Ahuna Mons. A substantial variability in the 2.7-μm band depth distribution is observed across the Rongo quadrangle, indicating an east-west gradient in the abundance of Mg-phyllosilicates. The NH4-phyllosilicates distribution appears quite homogeneous, except some localized regions, such as crater Haulani's ejecta, the flanks of Ahuna Mons, and crater Begbalel. The two band depths at 2.7 and 3.1 μm display an overall low correlation, suggesting a variable degree of mixing between Mg-phyllosilicates and NH4-phyllosilicates. At the local scale, mineralogical phases other than phyllosilicates are observed. Quadrangle Rongo includes sodium carbonate-rich regions, such as the flanks of Ahuna Mons, the ejecta of Xevioso crater located in the southern edge of Liberalia Mons, and crater Begbalel, which often display a reduction in both the 2.7- and 3.1-μm band depths, associated with an increased band depth at ∼4 μm, related to the presence of Na-rich carbonate phases. This suggests recent hydrothermal activity in this area, due to several episodes of cryovolcanism, or impacts that unveiled a peculiar composition in the shallow subsurface. Alternatively, the crust in this region might show a variable degree of compactness, such that the formation of Na-carbonates is favored only in specific locations (De Sanctis et al., 2016; Ruesch et al., 2016; Zambon et al., 2017). From a geological standpoint, quadrangle Ac-H-10 Rongo shows a correlation between its two main geologic units (Platz et al., 2017) and the distribution of Mg-phyllosilicates, suggesting a link between geology and mineralogy in this area.

Published
2019

3. Mineralogical analysis of the Ac-H-6 Haulani quadrangle of the dwarf planet Ceres

Author

TOSI, Federico, CARROZZO, FILIPPO GIACOMO, ZAMBON, Francesca, CIARNIELLO, Mauro, FRIGERI, ALESSANDRO, Combe, J. -Ph., DE SANCTIS, MARIA CRISTINA, Hoffmann, M., Longobardo, A., Nathues, A., RAPONI, Andrea, Thangjam, G., Ammannito, E., Krohn, K., McFadden, L. A., PALOMBA, Ernesto, Pieters, C. M., Stephan, K., Raymond, C. A., Russell, C. T., Dawn Science Team, ITA, USA, and DEU

Subjects
010504 meteorology & atmospheric sciences, Multispectral image, Near-infrared spectroscopy, Dwarf planet, Mineralogy, Astronomy and Astrophysics, 01 natural sciences, Space weathering, Dawn, Astrobiology, Quadrangle, Impact crater, Space and Planetary Science, 0103 physical sciences, Spectral slope, Ceres, Ejecta, 010303 astronomy & astrophysics, Geology, 0105 earth and related environmental sciences
Abstract

Ac-H-6 ‘Haulani’ is one of five quadrangles that cover the equatorial region of the dwarf planet Ceres. This quadrangle is notable for the broad, spectrally distinct ejecta that originate from the crater Haulani, which gives the name to the quadrangle. These ejecta exhibit one of the most negative (‘bluest’) visible to near infrared spectral slope observed across the entire body and have distinct color properties as seen in multispectral composite images. Besides Haulani, here we investigate a broader area that includes other surface features of interest, with an emphasis on mineralogy as inferred from data obtained by Dawn's Visible InfraRed mapping spectrometer (VIR), combined with multispectral image products from the Dawn Framing Camera (FC) so as to enable a clear correlation with specific geologic features. Our analysis shows that crater Haulani stands out compared to other surface features of the quadrangle. Albedo maps obtained in the near infrared range at 1.2 µm and 1.9 µm reveal that the floor and ejecta of Haulani are indeed a patchwork of bright and dark material units. Visible to near-infrared spectral slopes display negative values in crater Haulani's floor and ejecta, highlighting bluish, younger terrains. Diagnostic spectral features centered at ∼2.7 µm and ∼3.1 µm respectively indicate a substantial decrease in the abundances of magnesium-bearing phyllosilicates and ammoniated phyllosilicates in crater Haulani's floor and bright ejecta. Similar, but less prominent, spectral behavior is observed in other geologic features of this quadrangle, while the general trend in quadrangle Ac-H-6 for these two mineral species is to increase from the northwest to the southeast. However, it is worth noting that the correlation between the ∼2.7 µm and ∼3.1 µm spectral parameters is generally strong in the Haulani crater's area, but much weaker elsewhere, which indicates a variable degree of mixing between these two major mineral phases in moving away from the crater. Finally, the region of crater Haulani displays a distinct thermal signature and a local enhancement in calcium and possibly sodium carbonate minerals, which is hardly found in the rest of the quadrangle and is likely the result of intense hydrothermal processes following the impact event. These evidences all together confirm the young age of crater Haulani, as they have not been erased or made elusive by space weathering processes.

Published
2019

4. Spectral Analysis of Enceladus' South Pole

Author

Scipioni, F., Schenk, P., Clark, R., TOSI, Federico, Combe, J. -Ph., Dalle Ore, C. M., ITA, and USA

Subjects
Physics::Space Physics, Astrophysics::Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics, Astrophysics::Solar and Stellar Astrophysics, Astrophysics::Earth and Planetary Astrophysics, Astrophysics::Galaxy Astrophysics
Abstract

We will show analysis spectra returned by the spectrometer VIMS onboard the Cassini mission in the IR range of Enceladus' South Pole.

Published
2016

5. Detection of H2O-Rich Materials on Ceres by the Dawn Mission

Author

Combe, J. -Ph., McCord, T. B., TOSI, Federico, RAPONI, Andrea, DE SANCTIS, MARIA CRISTINA, Ammannito, E., Raymond, C. A., Russell, C. T., ITA, and USA

Abstract

Exposed H2O ice or H2O-bearing minerals in crater Oxo on Ceres are revealed by near-infrared reflectance spectra acquired by the Dawn mission.

Published
2016

6. The diurnal cycle of water ice on comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko

Author

DE SANCTIS, MARIA CRISTINA, CAPACCIONI, FABRIZIO, CIARNIELLO, Mauro, FILACCHIONE, GIANRICO, FORMISANO, Michelangelo, Mottola, S., RAPONI, Andrea, TOSI, Federico, Bockelée-Morvan, D., Erard, S., Leyrat, C., Schmitt, B., Ammannito, E., Arnold, G., Barucci, M. A., Combi, M., Capria, M. T., Cerroni, P., Ip, W. -H., Kuehrt, E., McCord, T. B., PALOMBA, Ernesto, Beck, P., Quirico, E., VIRTIS Team, PICCIONI, GIUSEPPE, BELLUCCI, Giancarlo, Fulchignoni, M., Jaumann, R., Stephan, K., Longobardo, A., MENNELLA, Vito, MIGLIORINI, Alessandra, Benkhoff, J., Bibring, J. P., Blanco, A., Blecka, M., Carlson, R., Carsenty, U., Colangeli, L., Combes, M., Crovisier, J., Drossart, P., Encrenaz, T., Federico, C., Fink, U., Fonti, S., Irwin, P., Langevin, Y., Magni, G., Moroz, L., Orofino, V., Schade, U., Taylor, F., Tiphene, D., Tozzi, G. P., Biver, N., Bonal, L., Combe, J. -Ph., Despan, D., Flamini, E., Fornasier, S., FRIGERI, ALESSANDRO, GRASSI, Davide, Gudipati, M. S., Mancarella, F., Markus, K., Merlin, F., OROSEI, ROBERTO, RINALDI, GIOVANNA, CARTACCI, MARCO, Cicchetti, A., GIUPPI, Stefano, Hello, Y., Henry, F., Jacquinod, S., Rees, J. M., NOSCHESE, RAFFAELLA, POLITI, ROMOLO, Peter, G., M. C., De Sancti, F., Capaccioni, M., Ciarniello, G., Filacchione, M., Formisano, S., Mottola, A., Raponi, F., Tosi, D., Bockele´e Morvan, S., Erard, C., Leyrat, B., Schmitt, E., Ammannito, G., Arnold, M. A., Barucci, M., Combi, M. T., Capria, P., Cerroni, W. H., Ip, E., Kuehrt, T. B., Mccord, E., Palomba, P., Beck, E., Quirico, G., Piccioni, G., Bellucci, M., Fulchignoni, R., Jaumann, K., Stephan, A., Longobardo, V., Mennella, A., Migliorini, J., Benkhoff, J. P., Bibring, Blanco, Armando, M., Blecka, R., Carlson, U., Carsenty, L., Colangeli, M., Combe, J., Crovisier, P., Drossart, T., Encrenaz, C., Federico, U., Fink, Fonti, Sergio, P., Irwin, Y., Langevin, G., Magni, L., Moroz, Orofino, Vincenzo, U., Schade, F., Taylor, D., Tiphene, G. P., Tozzi, N., Biver, L., Bonal, Combe, J. P. h., D., Despan, E., Flamini, S., Fornasier, A., Frigeri, D., Grassi, M. S., Gudipati, 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 Spaziale e Fisica cosmica - Roma (IASF-Roma), Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica (INAF), Istituto di Astrofisica e Planetologia Spaziali - INAF (IAPS), DLR Institute of Planetary Research, German Aerospace Center (DLR), 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), Institut de Planétologie et d'Astrophysique de Grenoble (IPAG ), Observatoire des Sciences de l'Univers de Grenoble (OSUG), Université Joseph Fourier - Grenoble 1 (UJF)-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 Joseph Fourier - Grenoble 1 (UJF)-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)-Centre National d'Études Spatiales [Toulouse] (CNES)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Istituto di Fisica dello Spazio Interplanetario (IFSI), Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), DLR Institut für Planetenforschung, Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt [Berlin] (DLR), Department of Atmospheric, Oceanic, and Space Sciences [Ann Arbor] (AOSS), University of Michigan [Ann Arbor], University of Michigan System-University of Michigan System, Institute of Astronomy [Taiwan] (IANCU), National Central University [Taiwan] (NCU), Department of Earth and Space Sciences [Seattle], University of Washington [Seattle], Laboratoire de Sciences de la Terre, ITA, USA, GBR, FRA, DEU, TWN, NLD, POL, and National Research Council of Italy | Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR)

Subjects
67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko, Time Factors, Extraterrestrial Environment, 010504 meteorology & atmospheric sciences, Comet, 01 natural sciences, water ice, Astrobiology, comet, Diurnal cycle, 0103 physical sciences, Sunrise, Water cycle, 010303 astronomy & astrophysics, ComputingMilieux_MISCELLANEOUS, 0105 earth and related environmental sciences, [PHYS]Physics [physics], Multidisciplinary, Meteoroid, Ice, Diurnal temperature variation, Temperature, food and beverages, Meteoroids, Environmental science, Volatilization, [PHYS.ASTR]Physics [physics]/Astrophysics [astro-ph], Surface water, cycle of water ice, Water vapor
Abstract

Observations of cometary nuclei have revealed a very limited amount of surface water ice, which is insufficient to explain the observed water outgassing. This was clearly demonstrated on comet 9P/Tempel 1, where the dust jets (driven by volatiles) were only partially correlated with the exposed ice regions. The observations of 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko have revealed that activity has a diurnal variation in intensity arising from changing insolation conditions. It was previously concluded that water vapour was generated in ice-rich subsurface layers with a transport mechanism linked to solar illumination, but that has not hitherto been observed. Periodic condensations of water vapour very close to, or on, the surface were suggested to explain short-lived outbursts seen near sunrise on comet 9P/Tempel 1. Here we report observations of water ice on the surface of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko, appearing and disappearing in a cyclic pattern that follows local illumination conditions, providing a source of localized activity. This water cycle appears to be an important process in the evolution of the comet, leading to cyclical modification of the relative abundance of water ice on its surface.

Published
2015

9. The changing temperature of the nucleus of comet 67P induced by morphological and seasonal effects

Author

Ernesto Palomba, T. B. McCord, Batiste Rousseau, F. Mancarella, Sergio Fonti, Bernard Schmitt, Dominique Bockelée-Morvan, David Kappel, Mark Hofstadter, A. Zinzi, Gabriele Arnold, Mauro Ciarniello, J. Ph. Combe, Fabrizio Capaccioni, Giuseppe Piccioni, Alessandra Migliorini, Federico Tosi, J.-B. Vincent, Stéphane Erard, Giancarlo Bellucci, Priscilla Cerroni, Andrea Raponi, Johannes Benkhoff, D. Despan, Stefano Mottola, M. T. Capria, M. A. Barucci, Vincenzo Orofino, Gianrico Filacchione, Michelangelo Formisano, C. Leyrat, Andrea Longobardo, Ekkehard Kührt, M. C. De Sanctis, Istituto di Astrofisica e Planetologia Spaziali - INAF (IAPS), Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica (INAF), German Aerospace Center (DLR), Agenzia Spaziale Italiana (ASI), Istituto di Astrofisica Spaziale e Fisica cosmica - Roma (IASF-Roma), Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), California Institute of Technology (CALTECH)-NASA, Dipartimento di Fisica, Università degli studi di Lecce, DLR Institut für Planetenforschung, Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt [Berlin] (DLR), Laboratoire d'études spatiales et d'instrumentation en astrophysique (LESIA (UMR_8109)), 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)-Sorbonne Université (SU)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Max-Planck-Institut für Sonnensystemforschung (MPS), Max-Planck-Gesellschaft, 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]), Istituto di Fisica dello Spazio Interplanetario (IFSI), Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), European Space Research and Technology Centre (ESTEC), European Space Agency (ESA), Department of Physics [Lecce], Università del Salento [Lecce], Department of Earth and Space Sciences [Seattle], University of Washington [Seattle], 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), Institut de recherches sur la catalyse (IRC), 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), Observatoire de Paris - Site de Meudon (OBSPM), Observatoire de Paris, PSL Research University (PSL)-PSL Research University (PSL)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), 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), ITA, USA, FRA, DEU, Tosi, F., Capaccioni, F., Capria, M. T., Mottola, S., Zinzi, A., Ciarniello, M., Filacchione, G., Hofstadter, M., Fonti, S., Formisano, M., Kappel, D., Kührt, E., Leyrat, C., Vincent, J. -B., Arnold, G., De Sanctis, M. C., Longobardo, A., Palomba, E., Raponi, A., Rousseau, B., Schmitt, B., Barucci, M. A., Bellucci, G., Benkhoff, J., Bockelée-Morvan, D., Cerroni, P., Combe, J. -Ph., Despan, D., Erard, S., Mancarella, F., Mccord, T. B., Migliorini, A., Orofino, V., and Piccioni, G.

Subjects
Daytime, 010504 meteorology & atmospheric sciences, Infrared, Comet, Imaging spectrometer, [SDU.ASTR.EP]Sciences of the Universe [physics]/Astrophysics [astro-ph]/Earth and Planetary Astrophysics [astro-ph.EP], Astrophysics, 01 natural sciences, law.invention, Orbiter, law, Phase (matter), 0103 physical sciences, medicine, Comets, Rosetta mission, 010303 astronomy & astrophysics, 0105 earth and related environmental sciences, Physics, Diurnal temperature variation, Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko thermal modeling temperature, Institut für Physik und Astronomie, Astronomy and Astrophysics, medicine.anatomical_structure, 13. Climate action, ddc:520, [PHYS.ASTR]Physics [physics]/Astrophysics [astro-ph], Nucleus
Abstract

International audience; K nowledge of the surface temperature distribution of a comet's nucleus proves to be of fundamental importance for a number of reasons: the evaluation of the thermophysical properties (thermal inertia and roughness, at several spatial scales), the characterization of the thermal behaviour of peculiar surface units (for example, local ice exposures, or inherently cold material units not to be confused with shaded areas), and for the understanding of the physical processes affecting the surface and the shallow subsur-face layers (for example, sublimation of volatile compounds). The distribution of surface temperatures of a cometary nucleus, closely measured by a spacecraft, can be compared with theoretical models meant to predict the thermophysical properties of the nucleus at various depths and with previous thermal observations carried out by both Earth-based and space-based telescopes, with the goal of validating and/or improving those models 1. Furthermore, the temporal evolution of the surface temperatures, primarily driven by insolation, is critical in triggering the activity of a comet, allowing the migration of volatile compounds from the interior of the nucleus and the production of gas and dust observable with different techniques 2. In the past, thermal surveys of minor bodies were carried out using ground-based and space-based facilities. However, due to the limited spatial resolution of those observations, in most cases the derived thermal properties were only global averages, and the determined temperatures were highly model dependent. Before Rosetta, direct measurements of cometary nuclei surface temperatures were obtained during short periods for a handful of comets, namely 1P/ Halley 3 , 19P/Borrelly 4 , 9P/Tempel 1 1 and 103P/Hartley 2 5 , with a maximum spatial resolution of approximately 30 m per pixel. Here we study the surface temperature distribution of the nucleus of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko as derived by the Visible InfraRed and Thermal Imaging Spectrometer, Mapping channel (VIRTIS-M, hereafter VIRTIS) 6 in Rosetta's early global mapping phase after comet encounter. These data cover the pre-perihelion period from 1 August to 23 September 2014, when the heliocentric distance decreased from 3.62 to 3.31 au and the spacecraft was in the altitude range 61-13 km above the surface, resulting in a spatial resolution from approximately 15 to 3 m per pixel (most data showing a resolution of 13 to 15 m per pixel). In this period, the solar phase angle ranged from 17° to 93°, which Knowledge of the surface temperature distribution on a comet's nucleus and its temporal evolution at different timescales is key to constraining its thermophysical properties and understanding the physical processes that take place at and below the surface. Here we report on time-resolved maps of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko retrieved on the basis of infra-red data acquired by the Visible InfraRed and Thermal Imaging Spectrometer (VIRTIS) onboard the Rosetta orbiter in 2014, over a roughly two-month period in the pre-perihelion phase at heliocentric distances between 3.62 and 3.31 au from the Sun. We find that at a spatial resolution ≤15 m per pixel, the measured temperatures point out the major effect that self-heating, due to the complex shape of the nucleus, has on the diurnal temperature variation. The bilobate nucleus of comet 67P also induces daytime shadowing effects, which result in large thermal gradients. Over longer periods, VIRTIS-derived temperature values reveal seasonal changes driven by decreasing heliocentric distance combined with an increasing abundance of ice within the uppermost centimetre-thick layer, which implies the possibility of having a largely pristine nucleus interior already in the shallow subsurface.

Published
2019

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