Now available in MNRAS (Mon. Not. R. Astron. Soc.) for March 2026:
Volume 546, Issue 4
Wang, Q. Cheng, B. Dai, W-Y. et al. Threshold velocity of wind erosion on the surface of comet 67P
stag200
Yaginuma, A. Taylor, A. G. Seligman, D. Z. Potential thermal profiles of the third interstellar object 3I/ATLAS stag162
Parhi, A. Prialnik, D. Combined orbital and thermal evolution of Oort Cloud comets stag257
Volume 547, Issue 1
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Volume 547, Issue 2
Wajer, P. Królikowska, M. Suchecki, J. Numerical analysis of Lyapunov times for trans-Neptunian objects and main-belt asteroids: stability, accuracy, and methodological comparisons stag280
Yes, comets have “atmospheres” (their comas- still cleaner than an Earth cleanroom). And atmospheres can support currents. Assuming a comet coma’s particle density (Comet Churyumov-Gerasimenko- well-measured), what air currents can be supported? Enough “wind” to move dust around on the nucleus.
Other comets, though, aren’t well measured. Our visitor 3I is, in general, like a Solar System comet, but different in exact volatile percentages and their related emission profiles. Yaginuma attempt, at best, the warming and emission properties of 3I based on what we’ve seen so far.
Somewhat like 3I, but bound to our Solar System, are Oort Cloud comets- those very-long-period objects which come from that distant reservoir of bodies, past our current telescopes’ reach. Well, with the few quality observations we have (when they enter the inner Solar System), and our current model of that Oort reservoir, Parhi and Prialnik try to piece together a history and evolution of these small bodies. (I’m a big stickler for observations- personally, I’m hesitant to sign off on Oort Cloud assumptions and results.)
The Lyapunov time, or TL, of a small Solar System body is the length of time before it gets “cleared” (ejected or swallowed) by a large Solar System body. Another way to think of it is the “life” of the body. Wajer et al. go a bit meta- how did we derive our Lyapunov times for TNOs and MBAs, and how much stock should we put in the results? They, too, are hesitant.