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Interception of comet Hyakutake's ion tail at a distance of 500 million kilometres

Author

Listed:
  • G. Gloeckler

    (University of Maryland
    Oceanic and Space Sciences, University of Michigan)

  • J. Geiss

    (International Space Science Institute)

  • N. A. Schwadron

    (Oceanic and Space Sciences, University of Michigan)

  • L. A. Fisk

    (Oceanic and Space Sciences, University of Michigan)

  • T. H. Zurbuchen

    (Oceanic and Space Sciences, University of Michigan)

  • F. M. Ipavich

    (University of Maryland)

  • R. von Steiger

    (International Space Science Institute)

  • H. Balsiger

    (Physikalisches Institut, University of Bern)

  • B. Wilken

    (Max-Planck Institut für Aeronomie)

Abstract

Remote sensing observations1,2,3,4,5 and the direct sampling of material6,7,8 from a few comets have established the characteristic composition of cometary gas. This gas is ionized by solar ultraviolet radiation and the solar wind to form ‘pick-up’ ions9,10,11, ions in a low ionization state that retain the same compositional signatures as the original gas. The pick-up ions are carried outward by the solar wind, and they could in principle be detected far from the coma. (Sampling of pick-up ions has also been used to study interplanetary dust12,13, Venus’ tail14 and the interstellar medium15,16.) Here we report the serendipitous detection of cometary pick-up ions, most probably associated with the tail of comet Hyakutake, at a distance of 3.4 au from the nucleus. Previous observations have provided a wealth of physical and chemical information about a small sample of comets6,7,8,9, but this detection suggests that remote sampling of comet compositions, and the discovery of otherwise invisible comets, may be possible.

Suggested Citation

  • G. Gloeckler & J. Geiss & N. A. Schwadron & L. A. Fisk & T. H. Zurbuchen & F. M. Ipavich & R. von Steiger & H. Balsiger & B. Wilken, 2000. "Interception of comet Hyakutake's ion tail at a distance of 500 million kilometres," Nature, Nature, vol. 404(6778), pages 576-578, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:404:y:2000:i:6778:d:10.1038_35007015
    DOI: 10.1038/35007015
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