DOI: 10.1126/science.237.4815.626. Evidence for Chain Molecules Enriched in Carbon, Hydrogen, and Oxygen in Comet Halley

Evidence for Chain Molecules Enriched in Carbon, Hydrogen, and Oxygen in Comet Halley

10.1126/science.237.4815.626

Crossref journal-article

American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)

Science (221)

Abstract

In situ measurements of the composition and spatial distribution of heavy thermal positive ions in the coma of comet Halley were made with the heavy-ion analyzer RPA2-PICCA aboard the Giotto spacecraft. Above 50 atomic mass units an ordered series of mass peaks centered at 61, 75, 91, and 105 atomic mass units were observed. Each peak appears to be composed of three or more closely spaced masses. The abundances decrease and the dissociation rates increase smoothly with increasing mass. These observations suggest the presence of chain molecules that are enriched in carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen, such as polyoxymethylene (polymerized formaldehyde), in comet Halley.

Bibliography

Mitchell, D. L., Lin, R. P., Anderson, K. A., Carlson, C. W., Curtis, D. W., Korth, A., RÃ¨me, H., Sauvaud, J. A., dâUston, C., & Mendis, D. A. (1987). Evidence for Chain Molecules Enriched in Carbon, Hydrogen, and Oxygen in Comet Halley. Science, 237(4815), 626â628.

Authors 10

D. L. Mitchell (first)
R. P. Lin (additional)
K. A. Anderson (additional)
C. W. Carlson (additional)
D. W. Curtis (additional)
A. Korth (additional)
H. Rème (additional)
J. A. Sauvaud (additional)
C. d'Uston (additional)
D. A. Mendis (additional)

References 20 Referenced 76

AHEARN, M.F., CYANOGEN JETS IN COMET HALLEY, NATURE 324: 649 (1986). (10.1038/324649a0) / NATURE (1986)
10.1038/321330a0
DELSEMME, A.H., THE NATURE OF THE COMETARY NUCLEUS, PUBLICATIONS OF THE ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY OF THE PACIFIC 97: 861 (1985). (10.1086/131617) / PUBLICATIONS OF THE ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY OF THE PACIFIC (1985)
EBERHARDT, P, ESA SP250 1: 383 (1986). / ESA SP250 (1986)
10.1126/science.182.4119.1344
GOLDANSKII, V.I., SOVIET PHYSICS-DOKLADY 22: 417 (1977). / SOVIET PHYSICS-DOKLADY (1977)
GRINGAUZ, K.I., ESA SP250 1: 93 (1986). / ESA SP250 (1986)
Huebner W. F. Symposium on the Diversity and Similarity of Comets (1987).
10.1126/science.237.4815.628
10.1038/321280a0
Korth, A., Journal of Physics E 20: 787 (1987). (10.1088/0022-3735/20/6/037) / Journal of Physics E (1987)
KRANKOWSKY, D, ESA SP250 1: 381 (1986). / ESA SP250 (1986)
KRANKOWSKY, D, INSITU GAS AND ION MEASUREMENTS AT COMET HALLEY, NATURE 321: 326 (1986). (10.1038/321326a0) / NATURE (1986)
LAMMERZAHL, P, ESA SP250 1: 179 (1986). / ESA SP250 (1986)
MENDIS, D.A., COMPOSITION OF COMETARY DUST - CASE AGAINST SILICATES, ASTROPHYSICS AND SPACE SCIENCE 37: L13 (1975). (10.1007/BF00640371) / ASTROPHYSICS AND SPACE SCIENCE (1975)
MITCHELL, D.L., ESA SP250 EUR SPAC A 1: 203 (1986). / ESA SP250 EUR SPAC A (1986)
SAUER, K, ESA SP250 EUR SPAC A 3: 401 (1986). / ESA SP250 EUR SPAC A (1986)
SCHWENN, R, ESA SP250 1: 225 (1986). / ESA SP250 (1986)
WHIPPLE, F.L., ESA SP250 2: 281 (1986). / ESA SP250 (1986)
WICKRAMASINGHE, N.C., POLYOXYMETHYLENE POLYMERS AS INTERSTELLAR GRAINS, MONTHLY NOTICES OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY 170: P11 (1975). (10.1093/mnras/170.1.11P) / MONTHLY NOTICES OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY (1975)

Dates

Type	When
Created	18 years, 10 months ago (Oct. 5, 2006, 4:28 p.m.)
Deposited	1 year, 7 months ago (Jan. 12, 2024, 10:01 a.m.)
Indexed	2 months, 1 week ago (June 20, 2025, 3:23 p.m.)
Issued	38 years ago (Aug. 7, 1987)
Published	38 years ago (Aug. 7, 1987)
Published Print	38 years ago (Aug. 7, 1987)

Funders 0

None

BibTeX

@article{Mitchell_1987, title={Evidence for Chain Molecules Enriched in Carbon, Hydrogen, and Oxygen in Comet Halley}, volume={237}, ISSN={1095-9203}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.237.4815.626}, DOI={10.1126/science.237.4815.626}, number={4815}, journal={Science}, publisher={American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)}, author={Mitchell, D. L. and Lin, R. P. and Anderson, K. A. and Carlson, C. W. and Curtis, D. W. and Korth, A. and Rème, H. and Sauvaud, J. A. and d’Uston, C. and Mendis, D. A.}, year={1987}, month=aug, pages={626–628} }

JSON

{
  "indexed": {
    "date-parts": [
      [
        2025,
        6,
        20
      ]
    ],
    "date-time": "2025-06-20T19:23:00Z",
    "timestamp": 1750447380410
  },
  "reference-count": 20,
  "publisher": "American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)",
  "issue": "4815",
  "content-domain": {
    "domain": [],
    "crossmark-restriction": false
  },
  "published-print": {
    "date-parts": [
      [
        1987,
        8,
        7
      ]
    ]
  },
  "abstract": "<jats:p>In situ measurements of the composition and spatial distribution of heavy thermal positive ions in the coma of comet Halley were made with the heavy-ion analyzer RPA2-PICCA aboard the Giotto spacecraft. Above 50 atomic mass units an ordered series of mass peaks centered at 61, 75, 91, and 105 atomic mass units were observed. Each peak appears to be composed of three or more closely spaced masses. The abundances decrease and the dissociation rates increase smoothly with increasing mass. These observations suggest the presence of chain molecules that are enriched in carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen, such as polyoxymethylene (polymerized formaldehyde), in comet Halley.</jats:p>",
  "DOI": "10.1126/science.237.4815.626",
  "type": "journal-article",
  "created": {
    "date-parts": [
      [
        2006,
        10,
        5
      ]
    ],
    "date-time": "2006-10-05T20:28:58Z",
    "timestamp": 1160080138000
  },
  "page": "626-628",
  "source": "Crossref",
  "is-referenced-by-count": 76,
  "title": "Evidence for Chain Molecules Enriched in Carbon, Hydrogen, and Oxygen in Comet Halley",
  "prefix": "10.1126",
  "volume": "237",
  "author": [
    {
      "given": "D. L.",
      "family": "Mitchell",
      "sequence": "first",
      "affiliation": [
        {
          "name": "Astronomy Department and Space Sciences Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720."
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "given": "R. P.",
      "family": "Lin",
      "sequence": "additional",
      "affiliation": [
        {
          "name": "Space Sciences Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720."
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "given": "K. A.",
      "family": "Anderson",
      "sequence": "additional",
      "affiliation": [
        {
          "name": "Physics Department and Space Sciences Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720."
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "given": "C. W.",
      "family": "Carlson",
      "sequence": "additional",
      "affiliation": [
        {
          "name": "Space Sciences Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720."
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "given": "D. W.",
      "family": "Curtis",
      "sequence": "additional",
      "affiliation": [
        {
          "name": "Space Sciences Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720."
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "given": "A.",
      "family": "Korth",
      "sequence": "additional",
      "affiliation": [
        {
          "name": "Max-Planck-Institut f\u00fcr Aeronomie, Lindau, Federal Republic of Germany."
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "given": "H.",
      "family": "R\u00e8me",
      "sequence": "additional",
      "affiliation": [
        {
          "name": "Centre d'Etude Spatiale des Rayonnements, CNRS-Toulouse, France."
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "given": "J. A.",
      "family": "Sauvaud",
      "sequence": "additional",
      "affiliation": [
        {
          "name": "Centre d'Etude Spatiale des Rayonnements, CNRS-Toulouse, France."
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "given": "C.",
      "family": "d'Uston",
      "sequence": "additional",
      "affiliation": [
        {
          "name": "Centre d'Etude Spatiale des Rayonnements, CNRS-Toulouse, France."
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "given": "D. A.",
      "family": "Mendis",
      "sequence": "additional",
      "affiliation": [
        {
          "name": "EECS, University of California, San Diego, CA 92093."
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "member": "221",
  "reference": [
    {
      "key": "e_1_2_1_1_1",
      "doi-asserted-by": "crossref",
      "first-page": "649",
      "DOI": "10.1038/324649a0",
      "volume": "324",
      "year": "1986",
      "unstructured": "AHEARN, M.F., CYANOGEN JETS IN COMET HALLEY, NATURE 324: 649 (1986).",
      "journal-title": "NATURE"
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_2_1_2_1",
      "doi-asserted-by": "publisher",
      "DOI": "10.1038/321330a0"
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_2_1_3_1",
      "doi-asserted-by": "crossref",
      "first-page": "861",
      "DOI": "10.1086/131617",
      "volume": "97",
      "year": "1985",
      "unstructured": "DELSEMME, A.H., THE NATURE OF THE COMETARY NUCLEUS, PUBLICATIONS OF THE ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY OF THE PACIFIC 97: 861 (1985).",
      "journal-title": "PUBLICATIONS OF THE ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY OF THE PACIFIC"
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_2_1_4_1",
      "first-page": "383",
      "volume": "1",
      "year": "1986",
      "unstructured": "EBERHARDT, P, ESA SP250 1: 383 (1986).",
      "journal-title": "ESA SP250"
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_2_1_5_1",
      "doi-asserted-by": "publisher",
      "DOI": "10.1126/science.182.4119.1344"
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_2_1_6_1",
      "first-page": "417",
      "volume": "22",
      "year": "1977",
      "unstructured": "GOLDANSKII, V.I., SOVIET PHYSICS-DOKLADY 22: 417 (1977).",
      "journal-title": "SOVIET PHYSICS-DOKLADY"
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_2_1_7_1",
      "first-page": "93",
      "volume": "1",
      "year": "1986",
      "unstructured": "GRINGAUZ, K.I., ESA SP250 1: 93 (1986).",
      "journal-title": "ESA SP250"
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_2_1_8_1",
      "unstructured": "Huebner W. F. Symposium on the Diversity and Similarity of Comets (1987)."
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_2_1_9_1",
      "doi-asserted-by": "publisher",
      "DOI": "10.1126/science.237.4815.628"
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_2_1_10_1",
      "doi-asserted-by": "publisher",
      "DOI": "10.1038/321280a0"
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_2_1_11_1",
      "doi-asserted-by": "crossref",
      "first-page": "787",
      "DOI": "10.1088/0022-3735/20/6/037",
      "volume": "20",
      "year": "1987",
      "unstructured": "Korth, A., Journal of Physics E 20: 787 (1987).",
      "journal-title": "Journal of Physics E"
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_2_1_12_1",
      "first-page": "381",
      "volume": "1",
      "year": "1986",
      "unstructured": "KRANKOWSKY, D, ESA SP250 1: 381 (1986).",
      "journal-title": "ESA SP250"
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_2_1_13_1",
      "doi-asserted-by": "crossref",
      "first-page": "326",
      "DOI": "10.1038/321326a0",
      "volume": "321",
      "year": "1986",
      "unstructured": "KRANKOWSKY, D, INSITU GAS AND ION MEASUREMENTS AT COMET HALLEY, NATURE 321: 326 (1986).",
      "journal-title": "NATURE"
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_2_1_14_1",
      "first-page": "179",
      "volume": "1",
      "year": "1986",
      "unstructured": "LAMMERZAHL, P, ESA SP250 1: 179 (1986).",
      "journal-title": "ESA SP250"
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_2_1_15_1",
      "doi-asserted-by": "crossref",
      "first-page": "L13",
      "DOI": "10.1007/BF00640371",
      "volume": "37",
      "year": "1975",
      "unstructured": "MENDIS, D.A., COMPOSITION OF COMETARY DUST - CASE AGAINST SILICATES, ASTROPHYSICS AND SPACE SCIENCE 37: L13 (1975).",
      "journal-title": "ASTROPHYSICS AND SPACE SCIENCE"
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_2_1_16_1",
      "first-page": "203",
      "volume": "1",
      "year": "1986",
      "unstructured": "MITCHELL, D.L., ESA SP250 EUR SPAC A 1: 203 (1986).",
      "journal-title": "ESA SP250 EUR SPAC A"
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_2_1_17_1",
      "first-page": "401",
      "volume": "3",
      "year": "1986",
      "unstructured": "SAUER, K, ESA SP250 EUR SPAC A 3: 401 (1986).",
      "journal-title": "ESA SP250 EUR SPAC A"
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_2_1_18_1",
      "first-page": "225",
      "volume": "1",
      "year": "1986",
      "unstructured": "SCHWENN, R, ESA SP250 1: 225 (1986).",
      "journal-title": "ESA SP250"
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_2_1_19_1",
      "first-page": "281",
      "volume": "2",
      "year": "1986",
      "unstructured": "WHIPPLE, F.L., ESA SP250 2: 281 (1986).",
      "journal-title": "ESA SP250"
    },
    {
      "key": "e_1_2_1_20_1",
      "doi-asserted-by": "crossref",
      "first-page": "P11",
      "DOI": "10.1093/mnras/170.1.11P",
      "volume": "170",
      "year": "1975",
      "unstructured": "WICKRAMASINGHE, N.C., POLYOXYMETHYLENE POLYMERS AS INTERSTELLAR GRAINS, MONTHLY NOTICES OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY 170: P11 (1975).",
      "journal-title": "MONTHLY NOTICES OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY"
    }
  ],
  "container-title": "Science",
  "original-title": [],
  "language": "en",
  "link": [
    {
      "URL": "https://www.science.org/doi/pdf/10.1126/science.237.4815.626",
      "content-type": "unspecified",
      "content-version": "vor",
      "intended-application": "similarity-checking"
    }
  ],
  "deposited": {
    "date-parts": [
      [
        2024,
        1,
        12
      ]
    ],
    "date-time": "2024-01-12T15:01:06Z",
    "timestamp": 1705071666000
  },
  "score": 1,
  "resource": {
    "primary": {
      "URL": "https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.237.4815.626"
    }
  },
  "subtitle": [],
  "short-title": [],
  "issued": {
    "date-parts": [
      [
        1987,
        8,
        7
      ]
    ]
  },
  "references-count": 20,
  "journal-issue": {
    "issue": "4815",
    "published-print": {
      "date-parts": [
        [
          1987,
          8,
          7
        ]
      ]
    }
  },
  "alternative-id": [
    "10.1126/science.237.4815.626"
  ],
  "URL": "http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.237.4815.626",
  "relation": {},
  "ISSN": [
    "0036-8075",
    "1095-9203"
  ],
  "subject": [],
  "container-title-short": "Science",
  "published": {
    "date-parts": [
      [
        1987,
        8,
        7
      ]
    ]
  }
}