BERLIN (EFE) .- captured by the color filters of Osiris instrument Rosetta images suggest the presence of ice in the “neck” of the comet 67P / Churyumov-Gerasimenko, the region called Hapi, yesterday the Institute Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research (MPS).
The images studied by computer scientists Osiris show that the “neck” of the comet -habitual reflects red light in the nuclei of comets and other bodies like asteroids in less effective than other regions form, so its appearance is slightly blue
In addition, in recent months this area has been particularly active. many of the sources of dust gas and the comet launched into space come from there.
By studying the characteristics of reflectance of the surface of the comet, scientists confirmed that the Hapi region is unique and its blue color could indicate the presence of water Frozen mixed with the dust from the surface.
“While color variations on the surface of 67P are small, can give us important clues” says Holger Sierks, head of Osiris team.
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According to Sonia Fornasier, the Paris Observatory and member of the same team, we know that “reflectance characteristics are directly concerned with the morphology of the surface.” The Rosetta spacecraft is equipped with additional tools to identify the presence of ice on the surface, because the color filters of Osiris can only represent a limited range of wavelengths.
So, the spectrometer Virtis, by example, can clearly determine the spectral signatures of water molecules.
“We are very curious to see if our cues from these measurements are confirmed,” says Sierks. The images of Osiris were taken on a filter 989, 700 and 480 nanometers on August 21, 2014, when Rosetta was 70 kilometers from the star.
“When 67P scope in August shorter its distance from the Sun, it is very hot, except for the Hapi region, which then remain in the dark and experience a kind of polar night, “Sonia said.
The neck of the comet “only receive sunlight again from March 2016,” adds
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