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A new study by a Belgian team using data from the European Southern Observatory s Very Large Telescope has shown that iron and nickel exist in the atmospheres of comets throughout our Solar System, even those far from the Sun. A separate study by a Polish team, who also used ESO data, reported that nickel vapor is also present in the icy interstellar comet 2I/Borisov. This is the first time heavy metals have been found in the cold atmospheres of distant comets. ....
Astronomers have discovered iron and nickel vapour in the atmospheres of comets distant from the Sun and surrounding the interstellar visitor 2I/Borisov. Astronomers have discovered iron and nickel vapour in the atmospheres of comets distant from the Sun and surrounding the interstellar visitor 2I/Borisov. ....
Heavy metal space rock The detection of the heavy metals iron (Fe) and nickel (Ni) in the fuzzy atmosphere of a comet are illustrated in this image, which features the spectrum of light of C/2016 R2 (PANSTARRS) on the top left superimposed to a real image of the comet taken with the SPECULOOS telescope at ESO’s Paranal Observatory. Credit: ESO/L. Calçada, SPECULOOS Team/E. Jehin, Manfroid et al. For the first time, astronomers have detected traces of heavy metals in the atmospheres of comets – both those whizzing through our Solar System and those from interstellar space. Scientists have long known that the dusty, rocky interiors of comets harbour solid forms of heavy metals. But these metals have only previously been observed in hot environments, like evaporating comets soaring to close too the Sun or ultra-hot exoplanet atmospheres. ....