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  • Comet Halley
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Composition of comet Halley dust particles from Vega observations

Nature volume 321, pages 280–282 (1986)Cite this article

Abstract

The dust impact mass analyser (PUMA) carried by the spacecraft Vega 1 and Vega 2 has provided the first direct measurements of the physical and chemical properties of cometary dust. Particles of mass <10−14 g are much more abundant than was predicted by models1. Most of the particles are rich in light elements such as H, C, N and O, lending support to models that describe cometary material as consisting of radiation-processed ices. Three examples of mass spectra for typical particle compositions are shown.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Max-Planck-Institut für Kernphysik, PO Box 103980, D-6900, Heidelberg, 1, FRG

    J. Kissel, K. Büchler, H. Fechtig & W. Knabe

  2. Space Research Institute, Profsoyuznaya 84/32, 117810, Moscow, GSP-7, USSR

    R. Z. Sagdeev, E. N. Evlanov, M. N. Fomenkova, N. A. Inogamov, V. N. Khromov, V. B. Leonas, G. G. Managadze, S. N. Podkolzin, V. D. Shapiro & B. V. Zubkov

  3. Service d'Aéronomie, BP 3, 91370, Verrières-le-Buisson, France

    J. L. Bertaux, J. E. Blamont & A. C. Levasseur-Regourd

  4. Laboratory for Space Experiments, Frunze, USSR

    V. N. Angarov & S. R. Tabaldyev

  5. Institut d'Astrophysique de Paris, 75014, Paris, France

    J. Audouze

  6. von Hoerner und Sulger Electronic Gmbh, D-6830, Schwetzingen, FRG

    H. von Hoerner

  7. MPI consultant, D-6100, Darmstadt, FRG

    F. R. Krueger

  8. Laboratoire René Bernas, 91406, Orsay, France

    Y. Langevin

Authors
  1. J. Kissel
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  2. R. Z. Sagdeev
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  5. J. Audouze
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  6. J. E. Blamont
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  8. E. N. Evlanov
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  9. H. Fechtig
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  10. M. N. Fomenkova
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  11. H. von Hoerner
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  12. N. A. Inogamov
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  13. V. N. Khromov
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  14. W. Knabe
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  15. F. R. Krueger
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  16. Y. Langevin
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  17. V. B. Leonas
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  18. A. C. Levasseur-Regourd
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  19. G. G. Managadze
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  20. S. N. Podkolzin
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  21. V. D. Shapiro
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  22. S. R. Tabaldyev
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  23. B. V. Zubkov
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Kissel, J., Sagdeev, R., Bertaux, J. et al. Composition of comet Halley dust particles from Vega observations. Nature 321 (Suppl 6067), 280–282 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1038/321280a0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/321280a0

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