Frozen starships: Studies of comet 67P and the interstellar object ‘Oumuamua
A seminar given by
SNSF Ambizione Fellow, Space Research & Planetary Sciences division, Physics Institute, University of Bern
titled:
Frozen starships: Studies of comet 67P and the interstellar object ‘Oumuamua
will take place on
Monday, October 23rd at 14:30
in the Salle du Conseil, service 322 of the PIIM laboratory (Campus St. Jerome) or by Zoom
Abstract: Comets are the frozen remnants of planet formation. Their icy composition reflects the physical conditions to which these objects were exposed, such as temperature and radiation. During this talk I present several new studies that help us understand the nature of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko and the interstellar object 1I/’Oumuamua.
In the laboratory we simulate the desorption processes of noble gases and nitrogen (N2) from comet-like ice to unravel the ice structure and “warm” formation mechanism of 67P. For ‘Oumuamua I show that accelerating this object by releasing “invisible” H2 molecules requires a highly unusual composition in combination with a much older age than currently thought.
Bio: Niels Ligterink is a physical chemist who studies the behaviour, interactions and reactions of molecules in space, specifically focusing on the building blocks of life and biosignatures. With cutting edge space instruments, laboratory techniques, and telescope observations he tries to understand the chemical processes taking place on planetary objects in our Solar-System and in the depths of space, where new stars are born. Find more information
23 octobre 2023, 10h3011h30
Salle du Conseil, service 322 of the PIIM laboratory (Campus St. Jerome)
