National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
Location
Pasadena, CA | United States
Job description
Description
The Microwave Instrument for the Rosetta Orbiter (MIRO) studies both the nucleus and coma of comet 67P/C-G. Flying on-board the Rosetta spacecraft, we have been observing the comet at wavelengths of 0.5 and 1.6 millimeters since May 2014, with end-of-mission anticipated in September 2016. Data analysis will continue for many years to come. While open to any area of research applicable to MIRO data (observational or model-based), we are particularly interested in candidates proposing to use our spectroscopic data to study the coma. A brief description of our instrument and science is given below. For details see Gulkis et al. 2015 (Science 347), Biver et al. 2015 (A&A Rosetta special issue in press), or Schloerb et al. 2015 (A&A Rosetta special issue in press). The successful candidate will work at JPL with the
instrument PI and members of the MIRO science team. Collaborations with other Rosetta instruments are encouraged. MIRO makes broadband, continuum measurements at wavelengths of 0.5 and 1.6 mm which are used to study the thermal and electrical properties of the nucleus sub-surface (typically probing depths from ~1 mm to a few cm). This information is used to infer the composition and density as a function of location, depth, and time. The continuum channels are also used to study dust in the coma. In addition to its continuum channels, MIRO has a high-resolution spectrometer, working at wavelengths near 0.5 mm (frequencies near 560 GHz) that observes 6 molecules in the coma: H2O, H2-17O, H2-18O, CH3OH, NH3, and CO. From our measurements, we infer the abundance, velocity, and temperature of those gases. Being sensitive to both the nucleus and coma allows MIRO to study them as a coupled system, and see how they each evolve over time.
Applications with citizens from Designated Countries will not be accepted at this time, unless they are Legal Permanent Residents of the United States. A complete list of Designated Countries can be found at: .
Eligibility is currently open to:
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