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    Shedding light on Comet Chury’s unexpected Chemical Complexity

    July 6, 2022, Categories  Astronomy/Space

    Data from comet “Chury”, collected while the comet passed the point of its orbit closest to the Sun, show a plethora of surprising molecules sublimating from expelled dust particles. On average, this complex organic material resembles that present in meteorites and Saturn’s ring rain, indicating a shared presolar origin.© Universtiy of Bern

    Researchers have for the first time identified an unexpected richness of complex organic molecules on a comet. This was achieved thanks to the analysis of data collected during ESA’s Rosetta mission at comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko, also known as Chury. Delivered to the early Earth by impacting comets, these organics may have helped to kick-start carbon-based life as we know it.

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