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Is the nucleus of comet Halley a low density body?

Abstract

An important finding of the Vega and Giotto missions to comet Halley was evidence that the cometary nucleus is a consolidated body1–5. The shape, size and rotation of the nucleus were studied as well its albedo1–3 and surface temperature6–8. In determining the nature of the cometary nucleus, a value for the average density ρ would be informative. In this paper we estimate ρ to be 0.6 +0.9−0.4g cm−3 compatible with the 'snow-ball' models of the nucleus, although a more compact ice structure could correspond to such a density value.

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Sagdeev, R., Elyasberg, P. & Moroz, V. Is the nucleus of comet Halley a low density body?. Nature 331, 240–242 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1038/331240a0

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