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Molecular Abundances in Comets

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 July 2016

Jacques Crovisier
Jacques Crovisier*
Affiliation:
Observatoire de Paris, Section de Meudon, F–92195 Meudon, France E-mail [email protected] MESIOA :: CROVISIE

Abstract

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The molecular composition of cometary volatiles is a basic information on the nature of comets and a clue to their formation mechanisms. It is only recently that direct identifications of cometary volatiles were obtained through in situ exploration as well as from remote sensing at UV, IR and radio wavelengths. An inventory of known cometary volatiles is presented, with a critical review of the evaluations of their abundances.

Type
Physical Observations and Modeling
Information
Symposium - International Astronomical Union , Volume 160: Asteroids, Comets, Meteors 1993 , 1994 , pp. 313 - 326
Copyright
Copyright © Kluwer 1994 

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