Abstract
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 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.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 18-1 - 18-4 |
| Journal | Geophysical Research Letters |
| Volume | 30 |
| Issue number | 9 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - May 1 2003 |
| Externally published | Yes |
All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Geophysics
- General Earth and Planetary Sciences