Aloha Count, Comets like Hartley 2 are comprised of rock, dust, water ice and frozen gases like carbon monoxide, methane and ammonia. As the comet approaches the sun, volatile material vaporize and outgas from the nucleus from solar radiation.
Although the outgassing of Comet Hartley 2 is quite active as can be seen in the spacecraft close approach images, and does impart a force (and a reactive force against the direction of the outgassing on the comet itself), it is negligible and does not alter the trajectory of the minor body to any appreciable degree due to the mass of the comet itself. gary On Nov 4, 2010, at 6:07 AM, Count Deiro wrote: > Gary and List, > > Thank you for the post, Big Kahuna. Anybody know if all that outgassing > imparts any thrust to the comet... and if so would it affect its orbit? > > Count Deiro > IMCA 3536 > > > > > -----Original Message----- >> From: Gary Fujihara <[email protected]> >> Sent: Nov 4, 2010 8:49 AM >> To: MeteorList <[email protected]> >> Subject: [meteorite-list] EPOXI images of Comet Hartley 2 >> >> For those of you who missed the live webcast, EPOXI spacecraft flew by Comet >> Hartley 2 a few minutes ago and took some absolutely stunning pictures with >> its Medium Resolution Imager. Here is a composite of 3 of the 5 closest >> approach images: >> >> http://bigkahuna-meteorites.com/Images/CometHartley-04.jpg >> >> EPOXI mission webpage: http://epoxi.umd.edu/ >> >> Gary Fujihara >> Big Kahuna Meteorites (IMCA#1693) >> 105 Puhili Place, Hilo, Hawai'i 96720 >> http://bigkahuna-meteorites.com/ >> http://shop.ebay.com/fujmon/m.html >> (808) 640-9161 >> >> ______________________________________________ >> Visit the Archives at >> http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html >> Meteorite-list mailing list >> [email protected] >> http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list > Gary Fujihara Big Kahuna Meteorites (IMCA#1693) 105 Puhili Place, Hilo, Hawai'i 96720 http://bigkahuna-meteorites.com/ http://shop.ebay.com/fujmon/m.html (808) 640-9161 ______________________________________________ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html Meteorite-list mailing list [email protected] http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
