A STUDY OF DUST AND GAS AT MARS FROM COMET C/2013 A1 (SIDING SPRING)

作者：Kelley Michael S P^*; Farnham Tony L; Bodewits Dennis; Tricarico Pasquale; Farnocchia Davide

来源：Astrophysical Journal Letters, 2014, 792(1): L16.

DOI：10.1088/2041-8205/792/1/L16

• celestial mechanics
• comets: individual (C/2013 A1 (Siding Spring))
• meteorites, meteors, meteoroids
• methods: numerical

Although the nucleus of comet C/2013 A1 (Siding Spring) will safely pass Mars in 2014 October, the dust in the coma and tail will more closely approach the planet. Using a dynamical model of comet dust, we estimate the impact fluence. Based on our nominal model no impacts are expected at Mars. Relaxing our nominal model's parameters, the fluence is no greater than similar to 10(-7) grains m(-2) for grain radii larger than 10 mu m. Mars-orbiting spacecraft are unlikely to be impacted by large dust grains, but Mars may receive as many as similar to 10(7) grains, or similar to 100 kg of total dust. We also estimate the flux of impacting gas molecules commonly observed in comet comae.

• 出版日期2014-9-1