On the existence of small comets and their interactions with planets

被引：8

作者：

Brandt, JC ^{[1
]}

AHearn, MF ^{[1
]}

Randall, CE ^{[1
]}

Schleicher, DG ^{[1
]}

Shoemaker, EM ^{[1
]}

Stewart, AIF ^{[1
]}

机构：

[1] UNIV MARYLAND,DEPT ASTRON,COLLEGE PK,MD 20742

来源：

EARTH MOON AND PLANETS | 1996年 / 72卷 / 1-3期

关键词：

comets; small; search program; planets;

D O I：

10.1007/BF00117524

中图分类号：

P1 [天文学];

学科分类号：

0704 ;

摘要：

Arguments are presented for a substantial, unexplored population of comets with radii less than 1 km. Known examples confirm this population and extrapolation of any plausible size-distribution function indicates large numbers. However, their accurate numbers, orbital characteristics, and physical properties are unknown. Thus, even though the small comets may be the most frequent cometary bodies impacting the planets, a quantitative evaluation is not currently possible. We advocate an optimized, dedicated search program to characterize this population.

引用

页码：243 / 249

页数：7

共 20 条

[1] ASTEROID-5335 DAMOCLES AND ITS IMPLICATIONS FOR COMETARY DYNAMICS [J].