The Landscape on Comet Tempel 1
Explanation:
This diverse landscape is the surface of
comet Temple 1's
nucleus as seen by the Deep Impact probe's
Impactor
Targeting Sensor.
Within minutes of
recording
the rugged view, the landscape
had changed dramatically though, as
the impactor smashed into the surface near
the two large, half kilometer-sized craters at picture center.
Indications
are that the probe penetrated well below the surface
before vaporizing, sending a relatively narrow plume of
debris blasting back into space.
Researchers are still speculating on the final size of
the crater produced by the
July 4th comet crash, but material
continues to spew from the impact site and has caused
the
faint comet to brighten significantly.
Determining the crater dimensions and analyzing the
debris ejected from the comet's interior will
provide premier insights into the formation of
comet
Tempel 1, a primordial chunk of our own solar system.
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
