The formation of the crater structure on the surface of a cometary nucleus by meteoroid impacts

Shulman, LM, Ivanova, AV
Kinemat. fiz. nebesnyh tel (Online) 2003, 19(4):367-373
Language: Ukrainian
Abstract: 

Several mechanisms of the formation of craters on the surface of a cometary nucleus are possible: the orbital evolution of an inhomogeneous nucleus, a meteoroid impact, an intensive vaporization of bulk CO2/CO inclusions, and a heat explosion due to the crystallization of amorphous ice or the recombination of hydrated ions. One of the possible mechanisms of the formation of the crater structure on the surface of a cometary nucleus, namely meteoroid impacts is considered. The probability of the simultaneous existence of several craters on the same nucleus is calculated with respect to different lifetimes and their formation frequency.

Keywords: cometary nucleus, craters, meteoroids