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Hubble View of Comet Tempel 1 – Before Outburst

Hubble View of Comet Tempel 1 - Before Outburst

About the Object

  • Distance
    DistanceThe physical distance from Earth to the astronomical object. Distances within our solar system are usually measured in Astronomical Units (AU). Distances between stars are usually measured in light-years. Interstellar distances can also be measured in parsecs.
    The Comet was approximately 0.8AU (120 million km, 74 million miles) from Earth and approximately 1.5AU (224 million km, 139 million miles) from the Sun at the time of these exposures
  • Dimensions
    DimensionsThe physical size of the object or the apparent angle it subtends on the sky.
    The comet's nucleus is approximately 5-6 km (3-4 mi) in diameter. It is not resolved in the HST images. The image is 10 arcseconds wide, approximately 6100 km (3800 mi) at the distance to the comet.

About the Data

  • Data Description
    Data DescriptionProposal: A description of the observations, their scientific justification, and the links to the data available in the science archive.
    Science Team: The astronomers who planned the observations and analyzed the data. "PI" refers to the Principal Investigator.
    The Hubble image was created from HST data from proposals 10144: P. Feldman (Johns Hopkins University), M. A'Hearn (University of Maryland), M. Belton (National Optical Astronomy Observatories), K. Meech (University of Hawaii), H. Weaver (Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory).
  • Instrument
    InstrumentThe science instrument used to produce the data.
    HST>ACS/HRC
  • Exposure Dates
    Exposure DatesThe date(s) that the telescope made its observations and the total exposure time.
    June 14, 2005, Exposure Time: 10 minutes
  • Filters
    FiltersThe camera filters that were used in the science observations.
    F606W (V)
  • Object Name
    Object NameA name or catalog number that astronomers use to identify an astronomical object.
    9P/Tempel 1
  • Object Description
    Object DescriptionThe type of astronomical object.
    Comet
  • Release Date
    June 27, 2005
  • Science Release
    Hubble Captures Outburst from Comet Targeted By Deep Impact
    Read the release
  • Credit
    NASA, ESA, P. Feldman (Johns Hopkins University) and H. Weaver (Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory)

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Related Images & Videos

Outburst from Comet Tempel 1, the Target of Deep Impact Space Probe

Outburst from Comet Tempel 1, the Target of Deep Impact Space Probe

In a dress rehearsal for the rendezvous between NASA's Deep Impact spacecraft and comet 9P/Tempel 1, the Hubble Space Telescope captured dramatic images of a new jet of dust streaming from the icy comet. The images are a reminder that Tempel 1's icy nucleus, roughly half the...

Hubble View of Comet Tempel 1 - After Outburst

Hubble View of Comet Tempel 1 - After Outburst

Transition Sequence of Dust Jet

Transition Sequence of Dust Jet

Transition between two images taken seven hours apart, a preview of the fireworks that may come July 4, when a probe from the Deep Impact spacecraft slams into the comet and may blast off a plume of dust material. The first image was taken June 14, 2005 at 2:17 am EDT and the...

Comet Animation with Dust Jets

Comet Animation with Dust Jets

Animation of a comet rotating into the heat of the sunlight. Various dust jet plumes erupt from the surface.

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Details

Last Updated
Mar 28, 2025
Contact
Media

Claire Andreoli
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center
Greenbelt, Maryland
claire.andreoli@nasa.gov

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