Comet 81P/Wild 2 size, shape, and orientation

This is the authors' abstract. We don't add key points for this paper.

Spectacular images, taken during the flyby of 81P/Wild 2 by the NASA Stardust spacecraft, were used to determine that the shape of the comet 81P/Wild 2 nucleus can be reasonably modeled as a triaxial ellipse having radii 1.65 × 2.00 × 2.75 km ± 0.05 km (1σ). The shortest axis, considered the rotational axis, has a right ascension of 110° and a declination of −13°. The longest axis, used to define zero longitude, has an argument of prime meridian angle of 155°. All angles use the IAU definitions, are relative to the Earth Mean Equator and Vernal Equinox of J2000 and have uncertainties of ±3° (1σ). The rotational axis was pointed 65° from the sun during the Stardust encounter of 81P/Wild 2, making an area within 25° of the spin axis in continual sunlight and the apparent source of a few major jets.