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Nordholt et al. 2003
Nordholt, J.E., Reisenfeld, D.B., Wiens, R.C., Gary, S.P., Crary, F., Delapp, D.M., Elphic, R.C., Funsten, H.O., Hanley, J.J., Lawrence, D.J., McComas, D.J., Shappirio, M., Steinberg, J.T., Wang, J. and Young, D.T. (2003). Deep Space 1 encounter with Comet 19P/Borrelly: Ion composition measurements by the PEPE mass spectrometer. Geophysical Research Letters 30: doi: 10.1029/2002GL016840. issn: 0094-8276.

We report in situ ion mass spectrometer measurements from the coma of Comet 19P/Borrelly, obtained during the flyby of the Deep Space 1 spacecraft on 22 September 2001. Cometary ions were detected at distances from ~5.5 ¿ 105 km to 2200 km from the nucleus of the comet. The predominant heavy ions observed during the seven minute interval about closest approach to Borrelly included OH+ (at 57% of the total water-group ion density), H2O+ (at 29%), O+ (at 13%), CH3+ (at 5%), and CH2+ (at 4%). Of particular note is the small amount of H3O+ (<9%), as this was the most abundant molecular ion observed at closest approach to Comet Halley. This difference is due to the difference in water production rates between the two comets.

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Abstract

Keywords
Planetology, Comets and Small Bodies, Atmospheres--composition and chemistry, Planetology, Comets and Small Bodies, Interactions with solar wind plasma and fields, Planetology, Comets and Small Bodies, Composition
Journal
Geophysical Research Letters
http://www.agu.org/journals/gl/
Publisher
American Geophysical Union
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