A New Simple Model of Comets-Like Activity of Centaurs

• Published in: Earth, moon, and planets Vol. 121; no. 3; pp. 105 - 125
• Main Authors: Wesołowski, M., Gronkowski, P.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 01.07.2018; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Astronomy; Astrophysics and Astroparticles; Carbon monoxide; Celestial bodies; Centaurs; Comet nuclei; Comets; Computer simulation; Exercise; Jupiter; Mathematical models; Numerical simulations; Observations and Techniques; Outbursts; Physical properties; Physics; Physics and Astronomy; Planetology; Space Exploration and Astronautics; Space Sciences (including Extraterrestrial Physics; Sublimation; Sun; Water ice; Comets: general–comets: individual: the centaur 95P/Chiron; The comet 29P/Schwassmann–Wachmann
• ISSN: 0167-9295; 1573-0794
• DOI: 10.1007/s11038-018-9517-1

Outbursts and variations of brightness are well known manifestations of the physical activity of the comets. Most cometary outbursts are recorded not very far from the Sun, where sublimation of water ice plays a major role in the activity of this celestial bodies. However, comets sometimes show physical activity far from the Sun, where the rate of water ice sublimation is small. Also a special kind of small bodies, i.e. centaurs sometimes show strong physical activity far from the Sun. The paper is based on the idea that the nuclei of centaurs may contain numerous cavities that are filled with gas under pressure and debris of cometary material. Numerical simulations were carried out for realistically assumed values of a wide range of physical parameters of centaurs. The obtained results are consistent with the observations of the physical activity of these celestial bodies.