81P/Wild 2 Comet
81P/Wild 2 — comet with 6.39-year orbit, 5.5 km nucleus. Stardust sample return 2004 — first cometary material brought to Earth. Discovered pre-solar grains (SiC, forsterite)…
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| Nucleus size | 5.5 km |
|---|---|
| Orbital period | 6.39 years |
| Perihelion | 1.584 AU |
| Aphelion | 5.302 AU |
| Eccentricity | 0.5389 |
| Discovered | 1978 |
| Next perihelion | 2027-Dec-22 |
| Composition | H2O ice, Silicates, Organic compounds, CAIs (calcium-aluminum inclusions) |
Details
Stardust sample return 2004 — first cometary material brought to Earth. Discovered pre-solar grains (SiC, forsterite) older than solar system. Calcium-aluminum-rich inclusions (CAIs) found, indicating mixing between inner and outer solar nebula. Aerogel capture preserved ~10,000 particles (1–100 μm). Crystalline silicates (olivine, pyroxene) suggest high-temperature processing before incorporation into comet. Prime scientific target for understanding solar system formation.
Sources / 数据来源
JPL Small-Body Database / IAU Minor Planet Center