May 31 1996
From The Space Library
Space News for this day. (1MB PDF)
A team of NASA and university researchers announced the discovery of large quantities of ethane and methane gases in Comet Hyakutake, the first time scientists had detected such gases in a comet. The discovery led researchers to postulate that at least two basic types of comets exist. If validated by further research, the hypothesis would have significant ramifications for scientific theories regarding the formation of the Sun and planets. Michael J. Mumma, the lead researcher on the project, called the discovery of ethane in the comet "a blinding surprise." The team of researchers included Karen Magee-Sauer of Rowan College, New Jersey, and NASA scientists Neil Dello Russo, David X. Xie, and Charles Kaminski.
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