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An Update on The Problem of Small Comets

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 August 2015

J.C. Brandt  and
M.F. A’Hearn
J.C. Brandt
Affiliation:
Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, University of Colorado, Boulder CO USA
M.F. A’Hearn
Affiliation:
Department of Astronomy, University of Maryland, College Park MD, USA

Extract

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The evidence for a major population of small comets (SCs) is summarized in two steps. First, we briefly summarize our previous work. Second, we describe recent work that continues to find SCs. When new capabilities become available that can detect SCs, we expect to find them and this is occurring. At present, their detection is a haphazard process and we advocate a dedicated, optimized search program.

We define SCs as those icy bodies (i.e., sublimating bodies) with radius less than 1000 meters. Often the existence of SCs is inferred from effects ascribed to them. These “effects” include: lunar cratering; cratering on Ganymede; excess interplanetary hydrogen; delivery of volatile materials to the terrestrial planets; and a source of fragile bodies entering the Earth’s atmosphere. While some of these indirect methods support the existence of SCs, direct observations are clearly preferred.

Type
II. Joint Discussions
Information
Highlights of Astronomy , Volume 11 , Issue 1: Highlights of Astronomy. As presented at the XXIIIrd General Assembly of the IAU (Part A), 1997 , 1998 , pp. 237 - 238
Copyright
Copyright © Kluwer 1998

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