Observations of Molecules in Comets

Abstract

Comets are among the most primitive bodies of the solar system, and their chemical composition is rich in information on the protosolar nebula and its possible connection with interstellar cloud chemistry. Comets are also a source of light atoms and, possibly, prebiotic organic molecules for the early Earth. We know better and better the abundances of cometary volatiles through spectroscopy, mainly at infrared and radio wavelengths. Another crucial component of cometary matter – organic refractories – is still poorly characterized, however.

We summarize here the $\sim$30 abundances and $\sim$20 upper limits obtained on cometary volatiles and highlight a few species and problems: ethylene glycol, NS, HNC/HCN, $^{14}$N/$^{15}$N, the origin of CN, CS$_{2}$, PAHs, and H$_{2}$O. Comet-to-comet variations and comet internal heliocentric variations can now be studied, and cometary comas can be mapped with a variety of techniques. We list a number of temperature indicators, for they can help understand the relation between IS and cometary matters, which present both a global similarity but also marked differences, such as the high ethylene glycol content of comets.

We conclude by outlining a few key problems to be addressed by future ground-based and space instruments or by cometary sample analysis. For many species, we stress that laboratory data are missing on spectroscopy, photodissociation and collisions with H$_{2}$O.