Publications by authors named "Frederic Merlin"
Understanding how comets work--what drives their activity--is crucial to the use of comets in studying the early solar system. EPOXI (Extrasolar Planet Observation and Deep Impact Extended Investigation) flew past comet 103P/Hartley 2, one with an unusually small but very active nucleus, taking both images and spectra. Unlike large, relatively inactive nuclei, this nucleus is outgassing primarily because of CO(2), which drags chunks of ice out of the nucleus.
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- The Moon is mostly dry, but the Deep Impact spacecraft discovered that its surface shows hydration at certain times of day, particularly near the North Pole.
- Hydration levels, which include hydroxyl and water, are influenced by temperature changes rather than total sunlight exposure, with mare basalts experiencing higher levels of hydration changes than highlands.
- The findings suggest a daily cycle of hydration and dehydration, likely due to a source of water-related ions from the solar wind.