The Thermal, Mechanical, Structural, and Dielectric Properties of Cometary Nuclei After Rosetta

Citation

Groussin O, Attree N, Brouet Y, Ciarletti V, Davidsson B, Filacchione G, Fischer H, Gundlach B, Knapmeyer M, Knollenberg J, Kokotanekova R, Kuhrt E, Leyrat C, Marshall D, Pelivan I, Skorov Y, Snodgrass C, Spohn T & Tosi F (2019) The Thermal, Mechanical, Structural, and Dielectric Properties of Cometary Nuclei After Rosetta. Space Science Reviews, 215, Art. No.: 29. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11214-019-0594-x

Abstract
The physical properties of cometary nuclei observed today relate to their complex history and help to constrain their formation and evolution. In this article, we review some of the main physical properties of cometary nuclei and focus in particular on the thermal, mechanical, structural and dielectric properties, emphasising the progress made during the Rosetta mission. Comets have a low density of 480±220 kgm−3 and a low permittivity of 1.9–2.0, consistent with a high porosity of 70–80%, are weak with a very low global tensile strength

Keywords
Solar system; Comets; Rosetta; Space mission

Journal
Space Science Reviews: Volume 215

People

Dr Nicholas Attree

Research Fellow, Biological and Environmental Sciences