Exocomets from a Solar System Perspective
Apollo (University of Cambridge)
Abstract
Exocomets are small bodies releasing gas and dust which orbit stars other than the Sun. Their existence was first inferred from the detection of variable absorption features in stellar spectra in the late 1980s using spectroscopy. More recently, they have been detected through photometric transits from space, and through far-IR/mm gas emission within debris disks. As (exo)comets are considered to contain the most pristine material accessible in stellar systems, they hold the potential to give us information about early stage formation and evolution conditions of extra solar systems. In the solar system, comets carry the physical and chemical memory of the protoplanetary disk environment where they formed, providing relevant information on processes in the primordial solar nebula. The aim of this paper is to compare essential compositional properties between solar system comets and exocomets to allow for the development of new observational methods and techniques. The paper aims to highlight commonalities and to discuss differences which may aid the communication between the involved research communities and perhaps also avoid misconceptions. The compositional properties of solar system comets and exocomets are summarized before providing an observational comparison between them. Exocomets likely vary in their composition depending on their formation environment like solar system comets do, and since exocomets are not resolved spatially, they pose a challenge when comparing them to high fidelity observations of solar system comets. Observations of gas around main sequence stars, spectroscopic observations of “polluted” white dwarf atmospheres and spectroscopic observations of transiting exocomets suggest that exocomets may show compositional similarities with solar system comets. The recent interstellar visitor 2I/Borisov showed gas, dust and nuclear properties similar to that of solar system comets. This raises the tantalising prospect that observations of interstellar comets may help bridge the fields of exocomet and solar system comets.
Authors 26
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Affiliation as printed
Department of Physics, Auburn University, Leach Science Center, Auburn, AL 36832, USA
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United States Naval Academy · University of Maryland, College Park
Affiliation as printed
Department of Astronomy, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
Department of Physics, United States Naval Academy, 572C Holloway Rd, Annapolis, MD 21402, USA
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Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique · Institut d'Astrophysique de Paris · Sorbonne Université
Affiliation as printed
Sorbonne Université, CNRS, UMR 7095, Institut d'Astrophysique de Paris, 98 bis bd Arago, F-75014 Paris, France
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University College London · Birkbeck, University of London
Affiliation as printed
Mullard Space Science Laboratory, University College London, Holmbury St. Mary, Dorking, Surrey RH5 6NT, UK
The Centre for Planetary Sciences at UCL/Birkbeck, London, UK
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Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique · Université Paris Sciences et Lettres · Observatoire de Paris · Sorbonne Université · Laboratoire d’études spatiales et d’instrumentation en astrophysique
Affiliation as printed
LESIA, Observatoire de Paris, Université PSL, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, Université de Paris, 5 place Jules Janssen, F-92195 Meudon, France
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Ollscoil na Gaillimhe – University of Galway
Affiliation as printed
School of Physics, National University of Ireland Galway, University Road, Galway, Ireland
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Affiliation as printed
School of Earth and Space Exploration, Arizona State University, P.O. Box 871404, Tempe, AZ 85287-1404, USA
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Institute for Space Astrophysics and Planetology
Affiliation as printed
Istituto di Astrofisica e Planetologia Spaziali (IAPS), INAF, via del Fosso del Cavaliere, I-00133 Roma, Italy
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Affiliation as printed
University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22904, USA
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Affiliation as printed
Astrophysics Research Centre, School of Mathematics and Physics, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK
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University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa · University of Hawaii System
Affiliation as printed
Institute for Astronomy, University of Hawaii-Manoa, Honolulu, HI 96825, USA
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Affiliation as printed
Institute of Astronomy, University of Cambridge, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0HA, UK
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Millenium Nucleus for Planet Formation · University of Valparaíso
Affiliation as printed
Instituto de Física y Astronomía, Facultad de Ciencias, and Núcleo Milenio de Formación Planetaria—NPF, Universidad de Valparaíso, Av. Gran Bretaña 1111, 5030 Casilla, Valparaíso, Chile
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Tartu Observatory · University College London
Affiliation as printed
Department of Physics and Astronomy, University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
Tartu Observatory, Observatooriumi 1, Tõravere 61602, Tartumaa, Estonia
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Affiliation as printed
Laboratory for Astrophysics, Leiden Observatory, PO Box 9513, NL2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands
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National Institute of Science Education and Research
Affiliation as printed
School of Earth and Planetary Sciences, National Institute of Science Education and Research, HBNI, Jatni 752050, Odisha, India
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Affiliation as printed
Astrophysics Research Centre, School of Mathematics and Physics, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK
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Affiliation as printed
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Astrochemistry Laboratory, Code 691, Greenbelt, MD 20771, USA
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Royal Observatory · European Southern Observatory · University of Edinburgh
Affiliation as printed
ESO (European Southern Observatory), Alonso de Cordova 3107, Vitacura, Santiago, Chile
Institute for Astronomy, University of Edinburgh, Royal Observatory, Edinburgh EH9 3HJ, UK
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Universidad Autónoma de Madrid
Affiliation as printed
Departamento de Física Teórica, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Cantoblanco, E-28049 Madrid, Spain
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Affiliation as printed
Institute of Astronomy, University of Cambridge, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0HA, UK
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Royal Observatory · University of Edinburgh
Affiliation as printed
Institute for Astronomy, University of Edinburgh, Royal Observatory, Edinburgh EH9 3HJ, UK
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Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Affiliation as printed
Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences Department, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
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Affiliation as printed
NSF's NOIRLab/Gemini Observatory, 670 N'ohoku Place, Hilo, HI 96720, USA
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Affiliation as printed
Institute of Astronomy, National Central University, Chung-Li 32054, Taiwan
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Leiden University · Max Planck Institute for Astronomy · Leiden Observatory
Affiliation as printed
Leiden Observatory, Leiden University, PO Box 9513, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands
Max-Planck-Institut für Astronomie, Königstuhl 17, D-69117 Heidelberg, Germany
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