What finding from Comet 46P/Wirtanen suggested that the method of water release, rather than the formation location, is key for cometary D/H ratios?
Answer
Water vapor released from ice grains matched Earth’s oceans, but surface sublimation did not
Data from SOFIA indicated that water vapor originating from ice grains within the comet's coma matched Earth's ratio, contrasting with water sublimating directly from the surface ice, suggesting interior analysis is crucial.
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