E. N. Evlanov

Small-Size Dust Particles Near Halley’s Comet

Dust-impact PUMA mass-analysers aboard the spacecrafts VEGA-1 and VEGA-2 allow to conduct the first direct measurements of mass spectra of comet Halley’s dust envelope particles with masses higher than 10 -17 g [1,2]. The analysis of spectra measured by the PUMA instruments showed that unindentified peaks in this spectra could be associated with very small particles (mass 10-17–10-20 g).

Chemical Composition of Halley’s Dust Component from the PUMA-2 Data

The survey of elemental composition of P/Halley dust component according to the data acquired by the PUMA-2 instrument installed on the board of the VEGA-2 spacecraft is presented. Possible mineralogical composition of dust particles is considered. Some reasons for possible presence in comet’s dust particles of virgin organic compounds are presented.