Currently, sci.esa.int is under review and not being updated. For the latest information and news from ESA science missions and scientific results, please visit esa.int. For a comprehensive overview of ESA’s Science Programme and its missions, please refer to science.esa.int. For in-depth technical information aimed at ESA's scientific communities, you may also wish to consult cosmos.esa.int.

Asset Publisher

Back How cliff collapse generates comet activity

How cliff collapse generates comet activity


Date: 23 September 2016
Satellite: Rosetta
Copyright: Based on J.-B. Vincent et al. (2015)

Much of the comet's regular activity can be linked back to the steady erosion of cliff walls that are initially fractured by thermal or mechanical erosion. These fractures propagate into the underlying mixture of ice and dust. As the ices sublimate, the gases escape through the fractures, acting a bit like nozzles to focus the gas flows and picking up dust a long the way to create the distinct collimated jets observed in Rosetta's images. Continued cracking, heating and sublimation eventually leads to sudden collapse of the cliff wall – the likely source of more-transient outburst events. At the same time, the debris that falls to the foot of the cliff also exposes previously hidden material, contributing to the observed outflow.
Last Update: 1 September 2019
18-Apr-2026 00:22 UT

ShortUrl Portlet

Shortcut URL

https://sci.esa.int/s/8JqagaW

Latest Selection

Also Available As

Related Images

Related Videos

Related Publications

Related Links

See Also

Documentation

Further Readings