X-ray emission from comets.
The discovery of x-ray emission from comet Hyakutake was surprising given that comets are known to be cold. Observations by x-ray satellites such as the Röntgen Satellite (ROSAT) indicate that x-rays are produced by almost all comets. Theoretical and observational work has demonstrated that charge-exchange collisions of highly charged solar wind ions with cometary neutral species can explain this emission. X-ray observations of comets and other solar system objects may be used to determine the structure and dynamics of the solar wind.
Cravens
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University of Kansas, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Malott Hall, Lawrence, KS 66045, USA. cravens@ukans.edu
D019110:Meteoroids; D019445:Solar Activity; D014965:X-Rays