Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko Discovered to Have Water Ice by Rosetta

Scientists have confirmed the presence of water ice on the comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. The findings were made shortly after Rosetta's arrival, though now researchers are taking a closer look at the data.

Although water vapor is the main gas seen flowing from the comet, the great majority of ice is believed to come from under the comet's crust. In fact, very few examples of exposed water ice have been found on the surface of the comet.

Now, a detailed analysis by Rosetta's VIRTIS infrared instrument reveals the composition of the comet's topmost layer; it's primarily coated in a dark, dry and organic-rich material but with a small amount of water ice mixed in.

In the latest study, the researchers confirmed that two areas several tens of meters across in the Imhotep region that appear as bright patches in visible light actually contain a significant amount of water ice.

The ice is actually associated with cliff walls and debris falls, and was at an average temperature of about 120 degrees Celsius at the time. In the regions, water ice occupied about 5 percent of each pixel sampling area, with the rest made up of dark, dry material.

The findings reveal a bit more about the comet, and show researchers a bit more about what other comets may appear to look like. As scientists continue to study data from the Rosetta mission, they may uncover even more information.

For more information on the Rosetta mission, visit ESA's website.

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