DOI: 10.1126/science.237.4815.628. First Polymer in Space Identified in Comet Halley

First Polymer in Space Identified in Comet Halley

10.1126/science.237.4815.628

Crossref journal-article

American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)

Science (221)

Abstract

The heavy-ion mass spectrum obtained in the inner coma of comet Halley with the PICCA instrument on the Giotto spacecraft has been examined. Short polymer chains of polyoxymethylene and their decay products are identified as the source for the spectrum with six mass peaks between about 45 and 120 atomic mass units. The properties of polyoxymethylene are consistent with many of the unexpected observations in the coma.

Bibliography

Huebner, W. F. (1987). First Polymer in Space Identified in Comet Halley. Science, 237(4815), 628â630.

Authors 1

W. F. Huebner (first)

References 23 Referenced 166

COMBES, M, ESA SP250 1: 353 (1986). / ESA SP250 (1986)
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)
Huebner W. F. Symposium on the Diversity and Similarity of Comets (1987).
KELLER, H.U., 1ST HALLEY MULTICOLOR CAMERA IMAGING RESULTS FROM GIOTTO, NATURE 321: 320 (1986). (10.1038/321320a0) / NATURE (1986)
10.1126/science.234.4782.1321
10.1038/321280a0
10.1038/321336a0
KORTH, A, ESA SP250 1: 199 (1986). / ESA SP250 (1986)
KORTH, A, MASS-SPECTRA OF HEAVY-IONS NEAR COMET HALLEY, NATURE 321: 335 (1986). (10.1038/321335a0) / NATURE (1986)
MCDONNELL, JAM, DUST DENSITY AND MASS-DISTRIBUTION NEAR COMET HALLEY FROM GIOTTO OBSERVATIONS, NATURE 321: 338 (1986). (10.1038/321338a0) / NATURE (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. COMMUNICATION.
MITCHELL, D.L., ESA SP250 EUR SPAC A 1: 203 (1986). / ESA SP250 EUR SPAC A (1986)
MITCHELL, D.L., EVIDENCE FOR CHAIN MOLECULES ENRICHED IN CARBON, HYDROGEN, AND OXYGEN IN COMET HALLEY, SCIENCE 237: 626 (1987). (10.1126/science.237.4815.626) / SCIENCE (1987)
OMONT, A, INT ASTRONOMICAL UNI 120: 545 (1987). (10.1017/S0074180900154580) / INT ASTRONOMICAL UNI (1987)
SAGDEEV, R.Z., VEGA SPACECRAFT ENCOUNTERS WITH COMET HALLEY, NATURE 321: 259 (1986). (10.1038/321259a0) / NATURE (1986)
SHALABY, S.W., RADIATIVE DEGRADATION OF SYNTHETIC-POLYMERS - CHEMICAL PHYSICAL, ENVIRONMENTAL, AND TECHNOLOGICAL CONSIDERATIONS, MACROMOLECULAR REVIEWS PART D-JOURNAL OF POLYMER SCIENCE 14: 419 (1979). (10.1002/pol.1979.230140105) / MACROMOLECULAR REVIEWS PART D-JOURNAL OF POLYMER SCIENCE (1979)
SNYDER L.E. unpublished data.
VANYSEK, V, FORMALDEHYDE POLYMERS IN COMETS, ASTROPHYSICS AND SPACE SCIENCE 33: L19 (1975). (10.1007/BF00640117) / ASTROPHYSICS AND SPACE SCIENCE (1975)
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)
WICKRAMASINGHE, N.C., FORMALDEHYDE POLYMERS IN INTERSTELLAR SPACE, NATURE 252: 462 (1974). (10.1038/252462a0) / NATURE (1974)

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	3 months ago (May 22, 2025, 7:03 a.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{Huebner_1987, title={First Polymer in Space Identified in Comet Halley}, volume={237}, ISSN={1095-9203}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.237.4815.628}, DOI={10.1126/science.237.4815.628}, number={4815}, journal={Science}, publisher={American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)}, author={Huebner, W. F.}, year={1987}, month=aug, pages={628–630} }

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