Complex organic molecules in comets C/2012 F6 (Lemmon) and C/2013 R1   (Lovejoy): detection of ethylene glycol and formamide
  A spectral survey in the 1 mm wavelength range was undertaken in the long-period comets C/2012 F6 (Lemmon) and C/2013 R1 (Lovejoy) using the 30 m telescope of the Institut de radioastronomie millim\'etrique (IRAM) in April and November-December 2013. We report the detection of ethylene glycol (CH$_2$OH)$_2$ (aGg' conformer) and formamide (NH$_2$CHO) in the two comets. The abundances relative to water of ethylene glycol and formamide are 0.2-0.3% and 0.02% in the two comets, similar to the values measured in comet C/1995 O1 (Hale-Bopp). We also report the detection of HCOOH and CH$_3$CHO in comet C/2013 R1 (Lovejoy), and a search for other complex species (methyl formate, glycolaldehyde). 
N. Biver, D. Bockel\'ee-Morvan, V. Debout, J. Crovisier, J. Boissier,   D.C. Lis, N. Dello Russo, R. Moreno, P. Colom, G. Pa...
astro-ph.EP