First analysis of the size-frequency distribution of boulders ge 7m on comet 67P

Abstract

Images of the surface of comet 67P Churyumov-Gerasimenko taken by the OSIRIS camera on board the Rosetta spacecraft have been used to study the statistical distribution and morphological properties of both cluster and isolated roundish structures ('boulders') scattered all over the surface. We used NAC images taken on Aug 5-6, 2014, at a distance between 131.45 - 109.76 km, with a spatial resolution ranging from 2.44 - 2.03 m/px (Fig. 1). Such data cover a full rotation of 67P, providing the first ever full size frequency distribution coverage of boulders ≥ 7m visible on a cometary illuminated side. Boulders are ubiquitous on the head, neck, and body of 67P \citep{thomas15}. The initial count of 4,976 boulders was reduced to 3,546 for statistical purposes taking into consideration only those with a diameter larger than 7 m \citep{pajola15}.