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Solar System
Comets
The charge exchange process operates throughout the solar system. It is especially important for comets, which have extended atmospheres. Comets resemble "dirty snow balls" a few miles in diameter with a surrounding cloud of dust and gas. By observing X-rays due to charge exchange in the cometary atmosphere, it is possible to study the elements present in the solar wind, the structure of the comet's atmosphere, and cometary rotation. In the future it may be possible to detect X-radiation from collections of hundreds of comets around stars other than the Sun. Young stars would be the most promising candidates because they have vigorous stellar winds.
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