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Issue A&A Volume 418, Number 3, May II 2004 Page(s) L35 - L38 Section Letters DOI 10.1051/0004-6361:20040116

A&A 418, L35-L38 (2004)
DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361:20040116

Letter

Ethylene glycol in comet C/1995 O1 (Hale-Bopp)

J. Crovisier¹, D. Bockelée-Morvan¹, N. Biver¹, P. Colom¹, D. Despois² and D. C. Lis<sup>3

1</sup>  Observatoire de Paris, 92195 Meudon, France
²  Observatoire de Bordeaux, BP 89, 33270 Floirac, France
³  California Institute of Technology, MS 320-47, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA

(Received 23 January 2004 / Accepted 18 March 2004 )

Abstract
We report the detection of ethylene glycol (HOCH ₂CH ₂OH) in comet C/1995 O1 (Hale-Bopp) from the analysis of archival radio spectra. Its production rate is 0.25% that of water, making it one of the most abundant organic molecules in cometary ices. This detection strengthens the similarity between interstellar and cometary material.

Key words: astrobiology -- astrochemistry -- comets: general -- comets: individuals: C/1995 O1 (Hale-Bopp) -- radio lines: solar system -- solar system: formation

Offprint request: J. Crovisier jacques.crovisier@obspm.fr

© ESO 2004

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