Quirky 45P Comet

Comet 45P:

        NASA observed a rare comet called Quirky 45P, which crossed in early 2017. After a deep study about the comet, it revealed that the ice contained in the comet is very similar to the icy moons of Jupiter planet. This comet is very identical not like any comets which visited our Solar System. Astronomers found nine type of gases which releasing out from the comet. Most of the outlet contains amino acids and sugar molecules. Organic molecules also, these type of organic materials was not found in the Jupiter's Moon.

     This comet 45P officially belongs to the Jupiter's family, but most of the comets comes from Oort Cloud. This comet orbits our Sun every seven years.It also has some traces of Carbon dioxide and Methane. To identify ices in the native region of Infrared Spectrum, astronomers conducted iSHELL high resolution spectrograph recently installed at IRTF.

     Astronomers team are now interested in producing the typical results among the similar comets. Comet 45P was first among the five short comets available for the study between 2017 and 2018. 

Short Period Comets:
         The five short comets were

1. Comets 2P | Encke
2. 41P | Tuttle-Giacobini-Kresak
3. 21P | Giacobini-Zinner
4. 46P | Wirtanen
5. Comet 45P

   The comet 45P is expected to remain within 16 million kilometers of Earth throughout most of the December 2018.This research is very useful in understanding the molecular species existing in the nuclei of Jovian-family comets.


    After the study of Comet 45P, they wished to publish from iSHELL, which was built through a partnership between NSF the University of Hawaii. This will be the first results to come of many iSHELL.

More Information:

NASA's IRTF Site - NASA's IRTF Website
Info about more comets - Comets by NASA
Offcial News Site of 45P -  Quirky Comet 45P

Credits: 
Photo - National Aeronautics Space Administration
Text - Elizabeth Zubritsky of NASA
News Published Date : 22 November 2017

Tags : Comets | Space Updates | Fornax Space Missions