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Stardust Interstellar Preliminary Examination X: Impact speeds and directions of interstellar grains on the Stardust dust collector
Author(s) -
Sterken Veerle J.,
Westphal Andrew J.,
Altobelli Nicolas,
Grün Eberhard,
Hillier Jon K.,
Postberg Frank,
Srama Ralf,
Allen Carlton,
Anderson David,
Ansari Asna,
Bajt Saša,
Bastien Ron S.,
Bassim Nabil,
Bechtel Hans A.,
Borg Janet,
Brenker Frank E.,
Bridges John,
Brownlee Donald E.,
Burchell Mark,
Burghammer Manfred,
Butterworth Anna L.,
Changela Hitesh,
Cloetens Peter,
Davis Andrew M.,
Doll Ryan,
Floss Christine,
Flynn George,
Frank David,
Gainsforth Zack,
Heck Philipp R.,
Hoppe Peter,
Hudson Bruce,
Huth Joachim,
Hvide Brit,
Kearsley Anton,
King Ashley J.,
Lai Barry,
Leitner Jan,
Lemelle Laurence,
Leroux Hugues,
Leonard Ariel,
Lettieri Robert,
Marchant William,
Nittler Larry R.,
Ogliore Ryan,
Ong Wei Ja,
Price Mark C.,
Sandford S. A.,
Tresseras JuanAngel Sans,
Schmitz Sylvia,
Schoonjans Tom,
Silversmit Geert,
Simionovici Alexandre,
Solé Vicente A.,
Stephan Thomas,
Stodolna Julien,
Stroud Rhonda M.,
Sutton Steven,
Trieloff Mario,
Tsou Peter,
Tsuchiyama Akira,
Tyliszczak Tolek,
Vekemans Bart,
Vincze Laszlo,
Korff Joshua Von,
Wordsworth Naomi,
Zevin Daniel,
Zolensky Michael E.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
meteoritics and planetary science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.09
H-Index - 100
eISSN - 1945-5100
pISSN - 1086-9379
DOI - 10.1111/maps.12219
Subject(s) - physics , cosmic dust , interstellar medium , solar system , interplanetary dust cloud , astrophysics , radiation pressure , astrobiology , astronomy , atmospheric sciences , galaxy
On the basis of an interstellar dust model compatible with Ulysses and Galileo observations, we calculate and predict the trajectories of interstellar dust ( ISD ) in the solar system and the distribution of the impact speeds, directions, and flux of ISD particles on the Stardust Interstellar Dust Collector during the two collection periods of the mission. We find that the expected impact velocities are generally low (<10 km s −1 ) for particles with the ratio of the solar radiation pressure force to the solar gravitational force β > 1, and that some of the particles will impact on the cometary side of the collector. If we assume astronomical silicates for particle material and a density of 2 g cm −3 , and use the Ulysses measurements and the ISD trajectory simulations, we conclude that the total number of (detectable) captured ISD particles may be on the order of 50. In companion papers in this volume, we report the discovery of three interstellar dust candidates in the Stardust aerogel tiles. The impact directions and speeds of these candidates are consistent with those calculated from our ISD propagation model, within the uncertainties of the model and of the observations.