Possible interpretation of the precession of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko

Context. Data derived from the reconstruction of the nucleus shape of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko (67P) from images of the OSIRIS camera onboard ROSETTA show evidence that the nucleus rotates in complex mode. First, the orientation of the spin axis is not fixed in an inertial reference frame, wh...

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Autores: Gutiérrez, Pedro J., Lara, Luisa María, Moreno, Fernando, Rodrigo Montero, Rafael, López-Moreno, José Juan, Sabau, D.
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2016
País:España
Institución:Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)
Repositorio:DIGITAL.CSIC. Repositorio Institucional del CSIC
OAI Identifier:oai:digital.csic.es:10261/146509
Acceso en línea:http://hdl.handle.net/10261/146509
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Comets: general
Comets: individual: 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko
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spelling Possible interpretation of the precession of comet 67P/Churyumov-GerasimenkoGutiérrez, Pedro J.Lara, Luisa MaríaMoreno, FernandoRodrigo Montero, RafaelLópez-Moreno, José JuanSabau, D.Comets: generalComets: individual: 67P/Churyumov-GerasimenkoContext. Data derived from the reconstruction of the nucleus shape of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko (67P) from images of the OSIRIS camera onboard ROSETTA show evidence that the nucleus rotates in complex mode. First, the orientation of the spin axis is not fixed in an inertial reference frame, which suggests a precessing motion around the angular momentum vector with a periodicity of approximately 257 h ± 12 h.Second, periodograms of the right ascension and declination (RA/Dec) coordinates of the body-frame Z axis show a very significant (higher than 99.99%) periodicity at 276 h ± 12 h, different from the rotational period of 12.40 h as previously determined from light-curve analysis. Aims. The main goal is to interpret the data and associated periodicities of the spin axis orientation in space. Methods. We analyzed the spin axis orientation in space and associated periodicities and compared them with solutions of Euler equations under the assumption that the body rotates in torque-free conditions. Statistical tests comparing the observationally derived spin axis orientation with the outcome from simulations were applied to determine the most likely inertia moments, excitation level, and periods. Results. Under the assumption that the body is solid-rigid and rotates in torque-free conditions, the most likely interpretation is that 67P is spinning around the principal axis with the highest inertia moment with a period of about 13 h. At the same time, the comet precesses around the angular momentum vector with a period of about 6.35 h. While the rotating period of such a body would be about 12.4 h, RA/Dec coordinates of the spin axis would have a periodicity of about 270 h as a result of the combination of the two aforementioned motions. Conclusions. The most direct and simple interpretation of the complex rotation of 67P requires a ratio of inertia moments significantly higher than that of a homogeneous body. © ESO, 2016.The support of the national funding agencies of Germany (DLR), France(CNES), Italy(ASI), Spain(MEC), Sweden(SNSB), and the ESA Technical Directorate is gratefully acknowledged. P.J.G. and L.M.L. particularly acknowledge funding from projects AyA 2012-32237 and ESP 2014-54062-R.Peer ReviewedEDP SciencesEuropean Space AgencySwedish National Space BoardMinisterio de Educación, Cultura y Deporte (España)Agenzia Spaziale ItalianaGerman Centre for Air and Space TravelCentre National D'Etudes Spatiales (France)Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas [https://ror.org/02gfc7t72]2017201720162017info:eu-repo/semantics/articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_6501Publisher's versioninfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersionhttp://hdl.handle.net/10261/146509reponame:DIGITAL.CSIC. Repositorio Institucional del CSICinstname:Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)Inglés#PLACEHOLDER_PARENT_METADATA_VALUE#info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/MINECO/Plan Estatal de Investigación Científica y Técnica y de Innovación 2013-2016/ESP2014-54062-RSíinfo:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessoai:digital.csic.es:10261/1465092026-05-22T06:33:51Z
dc.title.none.fl_str_mv Possible interpretation of the precession of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko
title Possible interpretation of the precession of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko
spellingShingle Possible interpretation of the precession of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko
Gutiérrez, Pedro J.
Comets: general
Comets: individual: 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko
title_short Possible interpretation of the precession of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko
title_full Possible interpretation of the precession of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko
title_fullStr Possible interpretation of the precession of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko
title_full_unstemmed Possible interpretation of the precession of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko
title_sort Possible interpretation of the precession of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko
dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv Gutiérrez, Pedro J.
Lara, Luisa María
Moreno, Fernando
Rodrigo Montero, Rafael
López-Moreno, José Juan
Sabau, D.
author Gutiérrez, Pedro J.
author_facet Gutiérrez, Pedro J.
Lara, Luisa María
Moreno, Fernando
Rodrigo Montero, Rafael
López-Moreno, José Juan
Sabau, D.
author_role author
author2 Lara, Luisa María
Moreno, Fernando
Rodrigo Montero, Rafael
López-Moreno, José Juan
Sabau, D.
author2_role author
author
author
author
author
dc.contributor.none.fl_str_mv European Space Agency
Swedish National Space Board
Ministerio de Educación, Cultura y Deporte (España)
Agenzia Spaziale Italiana
German Centre for Air and Space Travel
Centre National D'Etudes Spatiales (France)
Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas [https://ror.org/02gfc7t72]
dc.subject.none.fl_str_mv Comets: general
Comets: individual: 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko
topic Comets: general
Comets: individual: 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko
description Context. Data derived from the reconstruction of the nucleus shape of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko (67P) from images of the OSIRIS camera onboard ROSETTA show evidence that the nucleus rotates in complex mode. First, the orientation of the spin axis is not fixed in an inertial reference frame, which suggests a precessing motion around the angular momentum vector with a periodicity of approximately 257 h ± 12 h.Second, periodograms of the right ascension and declination (RA/Dec) coordinates of the body-frame Z axis show a very significant (higher than 99.99%) periodicity at 276 h ± 12 h, different from the rotational period of 12.40 h as previously determined from light-curve analysis. Aims. The main goal is to interpret the data and associated periodicities of the spin axis orientation in space. Methods. We analyzed the spin axis orientation in space and associated periodicities and compared them with solutions of Euler equations under the assumption that the body rotates in torque-free conditions. Statistical tests comparing the observationally derived spin axis orientation with the outcome from simulations were applied to determine the most likely inertia moments, excitation level, and periods. Results. Under the assumption that the body is solid-rigid and rotates in torque-free conditions, the most likely interpretation is that 67P is spinning around the principal axis with the highest inertia moment with a period of about 13 h. At the same time, the comet precesses around the angular momentum vector with a period of about 6.35 h. While the rotating period of such a body would be about 12.4 h, RA/Dec coordinates of the spin axis would have a periodicity of about 270 h as a result of the combination of the two aforementioned motions. Conclusions. The most direct and simple interpretation of the complex rotation of 67P requires a ratio of inertia moments significantly higher than that of a homogeneous body. © ESO, 2016.
publishDate 2016
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv 2016
2017
2017
2017
dc.type.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/article
http://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_6501
Publisher's version
info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
format article
status_str publishedVersion
dc.identifier.none.fl_str_mv http://hdl.handle.net/10261/146509
url http://hdl.handle.net/10261/146509
dc.language.none.fl_str_mv Inglés
language_invalid_str_mv Inglés
dc.relation.none.fl_str_mv #PLACEHOLDER_PARENT_METADATA_VALUE#
info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/MINECO/Plan Estatal de Investigación Científica y Técnica y de Innovación 2013-2016/ESP2014-54062-R
Sí
dc.rights.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
eu_rights_str_mv openAccess
dc.publisher.none.fl_str_mv EDP Sciences
publisher.none.fl_str_mv EDP Sciences
dc.source.none.fl_str_mv reponame:DIGITAL.CSIC. Repositorio Institucional del CSIC
instname:Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)
instname_str Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)
reponame_str DIGITAL.CSIC. Repositorio Institucional del CSIC
collection DIGITAL.CSIC. Repositorio Institucional del CSIC
repository.name.fl_str_mv
repository.mail.fl_str_mv
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