Interplanetary probe Rosetta measure surface temperature of the comet Churyumov-Gerasimenko

Prior to the planned rendezvous with the station Rosetta comet Churyumov-Gerasimenko, there are only 2 days (this event should happen August 6). However, many measurements of various characteristics of a comet, including the size of the nucleus, the evaporation rate of water have been made.

Now the measured temperature and the comet's nucleus. Looking ahead, it is worth mentioning that the comet nucleus is covered with dark dust, which leads to an increase in temperature. This in turn means that not all of the comet nucleus covered with ice in some parts of the kernel temperature is too high for the formation of a crust of ice on the surface.

Temperature measurements were performed instrument VIRTIS, between 13 and 21 July. Then the distance to the station of the comet decreased from 14,000 kilometers to just 5,000 kilometers.

At that distance Station "Rosetta" comet seen in the amount of several pixels. VIRTIS instrument is possible to measure the heat radiation of the comet, whereby it was found that the average temperature of the cosmic body is -70 degrees Celsius. It is about 20-30 degrees warmer than you need in order to fully cover all of the ice core.

The measurement results are allowed to make the first conclusions about the physical properties of the surface of the nucleus of the comet and its structure. Now scientists suggest that the comet nucleus is nestled dark dust, which is the cause of increased core temperature. Soon using VIRTIS can build a detailed thermal map of the comet as the current, static and "seasonal", displaying core temperature variations depending on the influence of the sun.

Now the distance to the comet's only a little more than 100 kilometers - the distance planned rendezvous with the station Rosetta comet.

Via esa

Source: habrahabr.ru/post/232109/