Comet Wild 2, officially known as 81P/Wild, is a Jupiter-family comet that was discovered by Swiss astronomer Paul Wild on January 6, 1978. Here's detailed information about this comet:
Discovery and Naming
- Paul Wild discovered Comet Wild 2 while working at the Zimmerwald Observatory in Switzerland.
- The comet was named after its discoverer, following the standard convention for naming comets after their discoverers or the telescope used for discovery.
Orbital Characteristics
- Initially, Comet Wild 2 had an orbit that took it out to the Kuiper Belt, but a close encounter with Jupiter in September 1974 altered its orbit significantly.
- This gravitational interaction changed its orbit from a longer period to a much shorter one, reducing its orbital period from about 40 years to approximately 6.4 years.
- The comet's orbit now crosses the orbit of Mars and comes close to Earth, making it easier to study.
Stardust Mission
- In January 2004, the NASA spacecraft Stardust flew by Comet Wild 2 to collect samples of dust from its coma.
- The mission was successful, and Stardust returned with cometary particles to Earth in 2006, providing the first samples of cometary material for analysis.
- The collected samples helped scientists understand the composition of the early Solar System and provided insights into the origin of life since comets like Wild 2 are considered time capsules from the formation of the Solar System.
Physical Characteristics
- Observations from the Stardust mission showed that Comet Wild 2 has an irregular nucleus approximately 5.5 kilometers in diameter.
- The surface of the comet was found to be highly active, with numerous jets of gas and dust emanating from it, suggesting a diverse composition of ices, dust, and possibly organic materials.
Scientific Significance
- The analysis of the dust collected from Wild 2 has revealed that comets could have played a crucial role in delivering water and organic compounds to the early Earth, potentially contributing to the development of life.
- The comet's material included minerals like olivine and pyroxene, which are not expected to form in the cold outer Solar System, suggesting that material from the inner Solar System was transported outwards.
Future Studies
- Due to its altered orbit, Comet Wild 2 remains an ongoing subject of study for astronomers interested in cometary science and the origins of our Solar System.
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