Rosetta illuminates origins of sunrise jets on comet 67P
May 23 (UPI) -- Thanks to data collected by the Rosetta probe, astronomers are beginning to understand the factors responsible for the formation of sunrise jets, which are unique dust and gas jets emitted by comets.
Sunrise jets are narrow strands of gas and dust extending from a comet's surface. They spring to life when a comet moves into the inner solar system and become bathed in sunlight, causing ice to melt and water vapor to envelope the orb.
Using data collected by the European Space Agency's Rosetta spacecraft, which orbited and observed comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko from August 2014 to September 2016, astronomers were able to catalogue the comet's gas and dust emissions.
The more than 70,000 images captured by Rosetta's scientific camera system OSIRIS revealed both sudden eruptions of gas and dust, as well as more stable, prolonged jet-like emissions.
Read more: https://www.upi.com/Science_News/2018/05/23/Rosetta-illuminates-origins-of-sunrise-jets-on-comet-67P/2251527105495/
Comet 67P's peanut-like shape and pitted texture causes gas and dust to become concentrated and triggers the formation of sunrise jets. Photo by ESA/Rosetta/MPS