Temporal morphological changes in the Imhotep region of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko

DOI: 
10.1051/0004-6361/201527020
Publication date: 
01/11/2015
Main author: 
Groussin O.
IAA authors: 
Gutiérrez P.J.;Lara L.M.;Lopez Moreno J.J.
Authors: 
Groussin O., Sierks H., Barbieri C., Lamy P., Rodrigo R., Koschny D., Rickman H., Keller H.U., A'Hearn M.F., Auger A.-T., Barucci M.A., Bertaux J.-L., Bertini I., Besse S., Cremonese G., Da Deppo V., Davidsson B., Debei S., De Cecco M., El-Maarry M.R., Fornasier S., Fulle M., Gutiérrez P.J., Güttler C., Hviid S., Ip W.-H., Jorda L., Knollenberg J., Kovacs G., Kramm J.R., Kührt E., Küppers M., Lara L.M., Lazzarin M., Lopez Moreno J.J., Lowry S., Marchi S., Marzari F., Massironi M., Mottola S., Naletto G., Oklay N., Pajola M., Pommerol A., Thomas N., Toth I., Tubiana C., Vincent J.-B.
Journal: 
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Publication type: 
Article
Volume: 
583
Pages: 
Number: 
A36
Abstract: 
Aims. We report on the first major temporal morphological changes observed on the surface of the nucleus of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko in the smooth terrains of the Imhotep region. Methods. We used images of the OSIRIS cameras onboard Rosetta to follow the temporal changes from 24 May 2015 to 11 July 2015. Results. The morphological changes observed on the surface are visible in the form of roundish features that are growing in size from a given location in a preferential direction at a rate of 5.6-8.1 × 10-5 m s-1 during the observational period. The location where the changes started and the contours of the expanding features are bluer than the surroundings, which suggests that ices (H2O and/or CO2) are exposed on the surface. However, sublimation of ices alone is not sufficient to explain the observed expanding features. No significant variations in the dust activity pattern are observed during the period of changes. © ESO, 2015.
Database: 
WOK
SCOPUS
ADS
SCOPUS
URL: 
https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/#abs/2015A&A...583A..36G/abstract
ADS Bibcode: 
2015A&A...583A..36G
Keywords: 
Comets: general; Comets: individual: 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko; Methods: data analysis