Tempel 1
Tempel 1 is a comet which orbits the sun every 5.5 years. It was discovered in 1867 by the astronomer Ernest Tempel.[1] On July 4, 2005, NASA fired a spacecraft from Deep Impact into its surface creating a spectacular explosion. Scientists were able to study the debris from the explosion to discover what the comet was made from. They discovered that part of the comet was covered in water ice which made it like a 7 acres (3 ha) skating rink.[2] This was the first time that evidence of water had been found on a comet.[2]
Tempel 1 Media
PIA02142 Tempel 1 bottom sharped
Detail of crater-like features on Comet Tempel 1 in image taken by Deep Impact's impactor
Tempel 1 in X-ray light by Chandra
Animation of Deep Impact's trajectory from 12 January 2005 to 8 August 2013 Deep Impact 1 Tempel 1 Earth 103P/Hartley
The head-on collision of comet 9P/Tempel and the Deep Impact impactor
Before and after comparison images from Deep Impact and Stardust, showing the crater formed by Deep Impact on the right hand image.
Animation of Stardust's trajectory from 7 February 1999 to 7 April 2011 Stardust · 81P/Wild · Earth · 5535 Annefrank · Tempel 1
References
- ↑ "NASA - Overview". nasa.gov. 2010. Retrieved November 6, 2012.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "NASA - Deep Impact Team Reports First Evidence of Cometary Ice". nasa.gov. 2008. Retrieved November 6, 2012.
