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The darkest object in the universe: What's the secret behind the low reflectivity of comet nuclei?
Comet nuclei, this mysterious object in the universe, have long been called "dirty snowballs" or "ice balls". They are essentially composed of rock, dust and frozen gas. When these comets are heated by the sun, the gas sublimates and forms a surrounding nitrogen cloud (coma). Due to the influence of solar radiation pressure and solar wind, the gas clouds form a huge tail pointing away from the sun. However, the reflectivity of many comet nuclei is only 0.04, making them darker than coal. What is the reason behind this?
The reflectivity of a typical comet nucleus is 0.04. The source of this value may be related to the dust layer covering its surface.
According to the scientific detection results of Rosetta and Philae, the core of comet 67P/Churyumov-Herasimenko does not have a magnetic field, which implies that magnetic phenomena may not have occurred during the formation of early planetary bodies. Doesn't play an important role. As we learn more about cometary nuclei, the composition of cometary nuclei and their formation process are becoming clearer, and this process may be due to the aggregation and collision of material in the early solar system.
In the data collected from the nucleus of comet 67P, the study found that electrons generated from solar radiation were generated when sublimating water molecules, not sunlight as previously thought.
With the advancement of science and technology, the study of comets has shifted from simple observations to a series of advanced detection missions. Since the relationship between function [1] and flying comet nuclei is no longer limited to the "dirty snowball" hypothesis, scientists have now proposed new models to explain these mysterious objects.
The origin and composition of comets
The origin theory of comets is that they or their precursors were formed in the outer solar system, possibly millions of years ago during the formation of the planets. Scientists speculate that comets are the remaining "building blocks" of small planetary bodies in the early solar system. This hypothesis is closely related to the formation of the earth and other planets.
Data show that the interior of Comet 67P's core may be composed of a hard ice layer containing ice and dust, and this structural phenomenon is related to its prominent activity.
In the past, scientists believed that water ice was the main component of comet nuclei, but now more and more evidence shows that the composition of comet nuclei is significantly different, and the proportion of water may only account for 20-30% of its total mass. This means that they are mainly composed of organic materials and minerals, a result that breaks the traditional theory of comets.
Exploring Comet: Implications of the Rosetta Mission
Since the beginning of solar system exploration, the study of comets has never stopped. The Rosetta mission is a classic example. The mission successfully landed on comet 67P in 2014, providing us with a large amount of exploration data and allowing scientists to better understand the composition and structure of comets.
Data from the Rosetta mission show that the core of comet 67P may not be composed of dispersed material, but instead appears to be more structured.
During this detection, the Philae lander detected at least 16 organic compounds, four of which were discovered for the first time on comets. This breakthrough discovery not only enhances our understanding of the composition of comets, but also allows scientists to further think about the history and origin of comets.
The mysterious phenomenon of comet nuclei
Comets approaching the Earth often fascinate us. These shining objects are not only beautiful scenes of the universe, but their activities and structures sometimes appear so fragile. For example, some comets break apart due to internal air pressure or thermal stress, especially on approach to the Sun. This provides a deeper understanding of the fragility of cometary nuclei and their evolution in the solar system.
Comets are thought to break apart due to thermal stress, internal pressure or collisions, a phenomenon that demonstrates the fragility of cometary nuclei.
With future detection missions, we may be able to further reveal the mystery of comets and know what these dark objects in the universe contain? Exploring whether comets can bring a new perspective to our understanding of the universe may be what motivates us to continue searching.
As we explore these darkest objects in the universe, we can't help but ask ourselves: How many unknown secrets do these icy giants that have evolved through the solar system hide?
