Sol88
Philosopher
- Joined
- Mar 23, 2009
- Messages
- 8,437
W. Thornhill has a good summary HERE
20 July 2004
Comets Impact Cosmology
Energetic sputtering anyone?
20 July 2004
Comets Impact Cosmology
Weaver goes on, "'Detailed geometrical analyses of the jets have been used to identify the sources of activity on the nucleus, which is one of the outstanding unresolved issues in cometary science. Surprisingly, the largest depressions on the surface of Wild 2 are apparently devoid of activity. ...most of the jets apparently originate near the latitude of the subsolar point and nine of the jets appear to rise from two depressed regions on the surface."' These are not surprises in the electrical model. Cathode arcs tend to strike from high points or sharp edges, in preference to flat surfaces. They will tend to strike where the electric field is strongest, at the subsolar point. The depressions are caused by steep arc erosion of the crater edges. One of the research articles (p. 1764) states '"The flat floors [of the depressions, bounded by nearly vertical cliffs] seem to be inert at the present time and resistant to sublimation because none of them are detectably associated with observed jets."' Later, (p. 1766) we find, '"...it is not clear why sublimation processes, driven by solar illumination on a spinning body, would form globally distributed circular structures."' There is only one process that will do that '– electric arc machining!
Energetic sputtering anyone?


