Unusual Spires Found on Comet Wild 2
Explanation:
How did unusual spires form on comet
Wild 2?
Close inspection of
images taken of
Comet Wild 2 by the passing
Stardust spacecraft in January show numerous
strange pinnacles as long as 100 meters long jutting off the surface.
The
pinnacles were unexpected - close-ups of
other
comets and
asteroids show no such features.
In fact, no other
Solar System
object besides Earth is known to show such
unusual structures.
Other unusual
Wild 2 surface features including long cliffs, deep pits and craters,
and
numerous active jets.
Together with the spires, these features are
hypothesized to be indicative of a very rigid surface sculpted by impacts and
explosive
sublimation.
Initially,
Wild 2 was expected by many to be held together
only quite loosely.
Stardust is scheduled to
fly by the Earth in 2006 and
drop off a sample of Wild 2 for detailed scrutiny.
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
