Physical Properties of Interplanetary Grains

Abstract

This paper presents physical properties of interplanetary dust determined by in-situ techniques. It is probable that, like millimeter-sized meteoroids (Jacchia, et al . 1967), most interplanetary dust is cometary matter. Although a cometary origin for interplanetary dust is widely accepted (Whipple 1967) (Millman, 1972) there is currently no unambiguous proof of this hypothesis. The results presented here must be interpreted accordingly. It must also be remembered that even if interplanetary particles are cometary, they might possibly be altered in the interplanetary medium by collisions and by thermal effects during close perihelion passages, so the dust particles may not be representative of unaltered cometary material.