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Science 18 May 2001:
Vol. 292. no. 5520, pp. 1334 - 1339
DOI: 10.1126/science.1058929
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Reports

Organic Composition of C/1999 S4 (LINEAR): A Comet Formed Near Jupiter?

M. J. Mumma,1* N. Dello Russo,12 M. A. DiSanti,12 K. Magee-Sauer,3 R. E. Novak,4 S. Brittain,5 T. Rettig,5 I. S. McLean,6 D. C. Reuter,1 Li-H. Xu7

In the current paradigm, Oort cloud comets formed in the giant planets' region of the solar nebula, where temperatures and other conditions varied greatly. The measured compositions of four such comets (Halley, Hyakutake, Hale-Bopp, and Lee) are consistent with formation from interstellar ices in the cold nebular region beyond Uranus. The composition of comet C/1999 S4 (LINEAR) differs greatly, which suggests that its ices condensed from processed nebular gas, probably in the Jupiter-Saturn region. Its unusual organic composition may require reevaluation of the prebiotic organic material delivered to the young Earth by comets.

1 Laboratory for Extraterrestrial Physics, Code 690, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD 20771, USA.
2 Department of Physics, The Catholic University of America, Washington, DC 20064, USA.
3 Department of Chemistry and Physics, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ 08028, USA.
4 Department of Physics, Iona College, New Rochelle, NY 10801, USA.
5 Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA.
6 Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1562, USA.
7 Department of Physical Sciences, University of New Brunswick, Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada E2L 4L5.
*   To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: mmumma{at}kuiper.gsfc.nasa.gov

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THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
The Spin Temperature of NH3 in Comet C/1999S4 (LINEAR).
H. Kawakita, J.-i. Watanabe, H. Ando, W. Aoki, T. Fuse, S. Honda, H. Izumiura, T. Kajino, E. Kambe, S. Kawanomoto, et al. (2001)
Science 294, 1089-1091
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
HST and VLT Investigations of the Fragments of Comet C/1999 S4 (LINEAR).
H. A. Weaver, Z. Sekanina, I. Toth, C. E. Delahodde, O. R. Hainaut, P. L. Lamy, J. M. Bauer, M. F. A'Hearn, C. Arpigny, M. R. Combi, et al. (2001)
Science 292, 1329-1333
   Abstract »    Full Text »
Outgassing Behavior and Composition of Comet C/1999 S4 (LINEAR) During Its Disruption.
D. Bockelée-Morvan, N. Biver, R. Moreno, P. Colom, J. Crovisier, E. Gérard, F. Henry, D. C. Lis, H. Matthews, H. A. Weaver, et al. (2001)
Science 292, 1339-1343
   Abstract »    Full Text »
Imaging and Photometry of Comet C/1999 S4 (LINEAR) Before Perihelion and After Breakup.
T. L. Farnham, D. G. Schleicher, L. M. Woodney, P. V. Birch, C. A. Eberhardy, and L. Levy (2001)
Science 292, 1348-1353
   Abstract »    Full Text »


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