Arrokoth the 'space snowman' and other Kuiper Belt objects may be packed with ancient ice

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Robert Lea is a science journalist in the U.K. whose articles have been published in Physics World, New Scientist, Astronomy Magazine, All About Space, Newsweek and ZME Science. He also writes about science communication for Elsevier and the European Journal of Physics. Rob holds a bachelor of science degree in physics and astronomy from the U.K.

The"space snowman" Arrokoth as seen by the New Horizons spacecraft the average temperature beneath the surface of Arrokoth

"The key thing is that we corrected a deep error in the physical model people had been assuming for decades for these very cold and old objects," Orkan Umurhan, team co-leader and SETI Institute senior research scientist said in a statement."This study could be the initial mover for re-evaluating the comet interior evolution and activity theory."

It could also change our understanding of comets as a whole, and help explain the intense outbursts we saw with cometThe team's model suggests Arrokoth is comprised of a mix of carbon monoxide and water ice. As the comet passes the sun, its surface gets heated, which causes it to lose ice and gas via sublimation. Sublimation refers to the transformation of a solid directly to a gas, skipping the liquid phase.

 

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