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Creating the Model Comet


Creating the Model Comet

By Andrew Bridges

Nov 01 1999 05:50:27 ET

When they deign to grace the heavens above, comets are among the brightest
objects visible in the nighttime sky.

But up close, peering within the bright coma and tail that distinguish it, a
comet's nucleus can be unexpectedly dark, often blacker than coal.

Scientists are interested in comets because they are thought to contain,
preserved by the deep freeze of space, the original ingredients that made up
our solar system, including organic material that may have helped spark life
here on Earth.

But comets' nuclei are obscured by abundant clouds of gas and dust. This
makes them difficult to study from Earth. And rendezvousing with them -- or
any small body, like an asteroid -- in space is an even trickier
proposition.

Due to the fact comets are so fast moving, and small -- often just miles or
kilometers across -- spacecraft are increasingly being given broad autonomy
in navigating the final steps to close encounters.

Full story here:

http://www.space.com/news/planetarymissions/comet_model_991101.html

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