TY - JOUR A1 - Sachse, Manuel A1 - Kappel, David A1 - Tirsch, Daniela A1 - Otto, Katharina A. T1 - Discrete element modeling of aeolian-like morphologies on comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko JF - Astronomy and astrophysics : an international weekly journal N2 - Context. Even after the Rosetta mission, some of the mechanical parameters of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko's surface material are still not well constrained. They are needed to improve our understanding of cometary activity or for planning sample return procedures. Aims. We discuss the physical process dominating the formation of aeolian-like surface features in the form of moats and wind taillike bedforms around obstacles and investigate the mechanical and geometrical parameters involved. Methods. By applying the discrete element method (DEM) in a low-gravity environment, we numerically simulated the dynamics of the surface layer particles and the particle stream involved in the formation of aeolian-like morphological features. The material is composed of polydisperse spherical particles that consist of a mixture of dust and water ice, with interparticle forces given by the Hertz contact model, cohesion, friction, and rolling friction. We determined a working set of parameters that enables simulations to be reasonably realistic and investigated morphological changes when modifying these parameters. Results. The aeolian-like surface features are reasonably well reproduced using model materials with a tensile strength on the order of 0.1-1 Pa. Stronger materials and obstacles with round shapes impede the formation of a moat and a wind tail. The integrated dust flux required for the formation of moats and wind tails is on the order of 100 kg m(-2), which, based on the timescale of morphological changes inferred from Rosetta images, translates to a near-surface particle density on the order of 10(-6)-10(-4) kg m(-3). Conclusions. DEM modeling of the aeolian-like surface features reveals complex formation mechanisms that involve both deposition of ejected material and surface erosion. More numerical work and additional in situ measurements or sample return missions are needed to better investigate mechanical parameters of cometary surface material and to understand the mechanics of cometary activity. KW - comets: general KW - comets: individual: 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko KW - methods: numerical Y1 - 2022 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/202141296 SN - 0004-6361 SN - 1432-0746 VL - 662 PB - EDP Sciences CY - Les Ulis ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Ciarniello, Mauro A1 - Fulle, Marco A1 - Raponi, Andrea A1 - Filacchione, Gianrico A1 - Capaccioni, Fabrizio A1 - Rotundi, Alessandra A1 - Rinaldi, Giovanna A1 - Formisano, Michelangelo A1 - Magni, Gianfranco A1 - Tosi, Federico A1 - De Sanctis, Maria Cristina A1 - Capria, Maria Teresa A1 - Longobardo, Andrea A1 - Beck, Pierre A1 - Fornasier, Sonia A1 - Kappel, David A1 - Mennella, Vito A1 - Mottola, Stefano A1 - Rousseau, Batiste A1 - Arnold, Gabriele T1 - Macro and micro structures of pebble-made cometary nuclei reconciled by seasonal evolution JF - Nature astronomy N2 - Comets evolve due to sublimation of ices embedded inside porous dust, triggering dust emission (that is, erosion) followed by mass loss, mass redistribution and surface modifications. Surface changes were revealed by the Deep Impact and Stardust NExT missions for comet 9P/Tempel 1 (ref.(1)), and a full inventory of the processes modifying cometary nuclei was provided by Rosetta while it escorted comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko for approximately two years(2-4). Such observations also showed puzzling water-ice-rich spots that stood out as patches optically brighter and spectrally bluer than the average cometary surfaces(5-9). These are up to tens of metres large and indicate macroscopic compositional dishomogeneities apparently in contrast with the structural homogeneity above centimetre scales of pebble-made nuclei(10). Here we show that the occurrence of blue patches determines the seasonal variability of the nucleus colour(4,11,12) and gives insight into the internal structure of comets. We define a new model that links the centimetre-sized pebbles composing the nucleus(10) and driving cometary activity(13,14) to metre-sized water-ice-enriched blocks embedded in a drier matrix. The emergence of blue patches is due to the matrix erosion driven by CO2-ice sublimation that exposes the water-ice-enriched blocks, which in turn are eroded by water-ice sublimation when exposed to sunlight. Our model explains the observed seasonal evolution of the nucleus and reconciles the available data at micro (sub-centimetre) and macro (metre) scales. KW - Asteroids, comets and Kuiper belt KW - Planetary science Y1 - 2022 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1038/s41550-022-01625-y SN - 2397-3366 VL - 6 IS - 5 SP - 546 EP - 553 PB - Nature Research CY - Berlin ER -