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AGU: Geophysical Research Letters

 

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  • Planetology: Comets and Small Bodies: Atmospheres—composition and chemistry
  • Planetology: Comets and Small Bodies: Interactions with solar wind plasma and fields
  • Planetology: Comets and Small Bodies: Composition

Abstract

GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS, VOL. 30, 1465, 4 PP., 2003
doi:10.1029/2002GL016840

Deep Space 1 encounter with Comet 19P/Borrelly: Ion composition measurements by the PEPE mass spectrometer

J. E. Nordholt

Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico, USA

D. B. Reisenfeld

Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico, USA

R. C. Wiens

Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico, USA

S. P. Gary

Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico, USA

F. Crary

University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA

D. M. Delapp

Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico, USA

R. C. Elphic

Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico, USA

H. O. Funsten

Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico, USA

J. J. Hanley

Southwest Research Institute, San Antonio, Texas, USA

D. J. Lawrence

Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico, USA

D. J. McComas

Southwest Research Institute, San Antonio, Texas, USA

M. Shappirio

Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico, USA

J. T. Steinberg

Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico, USA

J. Wang

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA

D. T. Young

Southwest Research Institute, San Antonio, Texas, USA

We report in situ ion mass spectrometer measurements from the coma of Comet 19P/Borrelly, obtained during the flyby of the Deep Space 1 spacecraft on 22 September 2001. Cometary ions were detected at distances from ∼5.5 × 105 km to 2200 km from the nucleus of the comet. The predominant heavy ions observed during the seven minute interval about closest approach to Borrelly included OH+ (at 57% of the total water-group ion density), H2O+ (at 29%), O+ (at 13%), CH3+ (at 5%), and CH2+ (at 4%). Of particular note is the small amount of H3O+ (<9%), as this was the most abundant molecular ion observed at closest approach to Comet Halley. This difference is due to the difference in water production rates between the two comets.

Published 6 May 2003.

Citation: Nordholt, J. E., et al. (2003), Deep Space 1 encounter with Comet 19P/Borrelly: Ion composition measurements by the PEPE mass spectrometer, Geophys. Res. Lett., 30(9), 1465, doi:10.1029/2002GL016840.

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