PIA02137: Tempel Alive with Light
Target Name: Tempel 1
Is a satellite of: Sol (our sun)
Mission: Deep Impact
Spacecraft: Deep Impact
Instrument: High Resolution Imager (HRI)
Product Size: 900 samples x 900 lines
Produced By: University of Maryland
Full-Res TIFF: PIA02137.tif (811 kB)
Full-Res JPEG: PIA02137.jpg (31.7 kB)

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Original Caption Released with Image:

This spectacular image of comet Tempel 1 was taken 67 seconds after it obliterated Deep Impact's impactor spacecraft. The image was taken by the high-resolution camera on the mission's flyby craft. Scattered light from the collision saturated the camera's detector, creating the bright splash seen here. Linear spokes of light radiate away from the impact site, while reflected sunlight illuminates most of the comet surface. The image reveals topographic features, including ridges, scalloped edges and possibly impact craters formed long ago.

Image Credit:
NASA/JPL-Caltech/UMD

Image Addition Date:
2005-07-05