ESA Science & Technology - Coma Composition and Evolution of Rosetta Target Comet Wirtanen

Publication date: 02 September 1999

Authors: Schulz, R., Schwehm, G.

Journal: Space Science Reviews
Volume: 90
Issue: 1/2
Page: pp. 321-328
Year: 1999

Copyright: Kluwer Academic Publishers

Comet 46P/Wirtanen is the target comet of the ROSETTA mission. Here, we give an overview of the information currently available on this comet from remote-sensing observations. Main emphasis is put on the description of the coma in terms of morphology, composition and evolution. We also summarize the current knowledge of the basic properties of the nucleus, in particular its size and rotational properties.