Water-Ice Found On Comet 67P’s Surface

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Shown is one of the regions of water-ice. Nature & Filacchione

For the first time, scientists have found water-ice on the surface of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. While we already knew water vapor existed in the coma (cloud) surrounding the comet, this is the first detection that has been made on the ground. 

The nucleus (cores) of comets like 67P are known to have water as a major constituent, but a common theme among all comets is a lack of water-ice on the surface. Only on one other comet – Temple 1 – has such a feature been hinted at before.