Comet Wild 2 even wilder than expected
19 June 2004
by Richard
Conan-Davies
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New images of the comet Wild 2 coming from a space probe Stardust have shown a very wild comet indeed. So wild was the comet that the Stardust probe was buffeted with lots of bits of comet dust coming from shooting jets of gas from the surface of the comet. Close up images of the comet showed suprising diversity in landscape from 100metre cliff faces to massive craters. Dr. Benton Clark, one of the chief scientists told NASA that "We expected a couple of jets, but saw more than two dozen in the brief flyby," The interesting thing about comets is that solid frozen materials tend to turn straight into a gas rather than a liquid when heated by the sun. This process is called sublimation. The Stardust probe is designed to collect comet dust and then bring it back to earth, via parachute. The sample is to be examined very carefully under strict containment conditions. The analysis could reveal clues to the origins of the solar system. |
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