Figure 1: X-ray Eyes on Tempel
This false-color image shows comet Tempel 1 as seen by Chandra X-ray
Observatory on June 30, 2005, Universal Time. The comet was bright and
condensed. The X-rays observed from comets are caused by an interaction
between highly charged oxygen in the solar wind and neutral gases from
the comet.
The observatory detected X-rays with an energy of 0.3 to 1.0 kilo electron
Volts. The bulk of the X-rays were between 0.5 and 0.7 kilo electron
Volts.
Chandra will observe the comet for 18 hours during and after the time
when NASA's Deep Impact impactor probe collides with Tempel 1 at 10:52
p.m. Pacific time, July 3 (1:52 a.m. Eastern time, July 4). The material
ejected from the crater could cause the interaction region, and thus the
X-ray emission, to move toward the Sun.
