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IMAGES OF COMET HALLEY
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Comet Halley
March 13-14, 1986
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Composite Image of Halley's Nucleus
European Space Agency's Giotto probe returned 2333 images during the
Comet Halley encounter of March 13-14, 1986. All
were recorded before the closest approach of 596 km
at 00:03:02 UTC on 14 March 1986; the last from a
distance of 1180 km, 15 seconds before closest approach.
This composite image highlights details on the
nucleus and the dust jets emanating from the sunlit
side.
Photo: MPAE, courtesy Dr H.U. Keller.
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Comet Halley
March 13, 1986
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Six Images of Halley's Nucleus
More images taken by Giotto.
The six shown here range from 375 seconds (no. 3416) to
55 seconds (no. 3496) before closest approach.
Photo: MPAE, courtesy Dr H.U. Keller.
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Comet Halley
March 14, 1986
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Giotto false color image of the nucleus of comet Halley taken 95
seconds before closest approach from a distance of 6500 km. Closest approach
distance was 596 km. The nucleus of the comet is roughly 16 x 8 x 8 km. It
is one of the darkest, or least reflective, objects in the solar system,
with an albedo of 0.03. (Giotto, 86-HC-145).
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Comet Halley
March 14, 1986
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Giotto Multicolor Camera clear filter image of the nucleus of
Halley's comet taken from a distance of 20,160 km about 5 minutes before
closest approach. Closest approach occurred 14 March 1986 at 00:03:02 UT at
a distance of 596 km. The nucleus is about 16 x 8 x 8 km in size. Halley has
an orbital period just over 76 years and will return in 2062. (Giotto, HMC
01814).
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