Researcher captures rare radar images of Comet 46P/Wirtanen

Researcher captures rare radar images of Comet 46P/Wirtanen

5 years ago
Anonymous $L9wC17otzH

https://phys.org/news/2018-12-captures-rare-radar-images-comet.html

Studying the comet with radar provides a glimpse of its nucleus, the solid portion of the comet usually hidden inside a cloud of gas and dust that makes up the coma and tail. Radar images also allow for a precise determination of the comet's orbit, allowing scientists to better predict how the gas and dust emission can alter the orbit.

Arecibo Observatory, a facility of the National Science Foundation operated by the University of Central Florida, is the only radar facility with the sensitivity to acquire images of Comet 46P/Wirtanen's nucleus during its flyby. The Arecibo radar observations of Comet 46P/Wirtanen began Dec. 10 and continued through Dec. 18.

Researcher captures rare radar images of Comet 46P/Wirtanen

Dec 21, 2018, 3:21pm UTC
https://phys.org/news/2018-12-captures-rare-radar-images-comet.html > Studying the comet with radar provides a glimpse of its nucleus, the solid portion of the comet usually hidden inside a cloud of gas and dust that makes up the coma and tail. Radar images also allow for a precise determination of the comet's orbit, allowing scientists to better predict how the gas and dust emission can alter the orbit. > Arecibo Observatory, a facility of the National Science Foundation operated by the University of Central Florida, is the only radar facility with the sensitivity to acquire images of Comet 46P/Wirtanen's nucleus during its flyby. The Arecibo radar observations of Comet 46P/Wirtanen began Dec. 10 and continued through Dec. 18.