[meteorite-list] UK Infrared Telescope First to Detect Flare from Deep Impact

From: Ron Baalke <baalke_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Fri Jul 8 18:12:00 2005
Message-ID: <200507082211.j68MBCx24960_at_zagami.jpl.nasa.gov>

http://outreach.jach.hawaii.edu/pressroom/2005-deepimpactlight/

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Issued by: Dr. Douglas Pierce-Price, Science Outreach Specialist
Joint Astronomy Centre
Email: outreach_at_jach.hawaii.edu
Tel: +1 808 969 6524
Fax: +1 808 961 6516

Images, notes , and contact details <#contacts> appear below.

6 July 2005

UK Infrared Telescope first to detect flare from Deep Impact

Astronomers at the United Kingdom Infrared Telescope in Hawaii were the
first at a large research observatory to detect the success of NASA's
Deep Impact mission to comet Tempel 1, measuring the effects of the
impact even before confirmation arrived from mission control at the Jet
Propulsion Laboratory.

At 19:52:05 Hawaiian Standard Time on 3rd July, astronomers using the UK
Infrared Telescope (UKIRT) saw a sudden and dramatic increase in the
brightness of the comet. "We immediately realised that we were seeing
the result of the impactor hitting the comet" said Dr. Paul Hirst, an
astronomer at the Joint Astronomy Centre, which operates UKIRT.

UKIRT detected the flare with its 'Fast Guide Camera' - a visible-light
camera that measured the comet's brightness 20 times per second. The
results were displayed instantly, so the team did not have to wait for
the data to be processed.

Prof. Steve Miller of University College London explained: "UKIRT's
measurements were the first clear signal that impact had actually
occurred. Major observatories around the world had joined a vast
videoconference to share results, and Paul Hirst immediately told all
the participants that UKIRT had detected the impact." Within about a
minute, the comet flared to double its pre-impact brightness, and within
an hour it was ten times brighter than before the impact. By measuring
the rate at which the brightness increased, Prof. Miller estimated that
the debris from the comet had been flung out at speeds of approximately
1100 kilometres per hour (700 miles per hour).

It was particularly exciting to detect the impact with the Fast Guide
Camera, which was designed purely to improve measurements with UKIRT's
main scientific instruments by correcting for atmospheric turbulence.
These results are an unexpected bonus in addition to Prof. Miller's main
project, the measurement of hot water vapour produced by the impact.

Prof. Gary Davis, Director of the Joint Astronomy Centre, said "We
believe comets are composed of the pristine raw material from which our
Solar System formed. Studying them can tell us more about the formation
of other planetary systems. The results from UKIRT are stunning."

    
Images

<http://outreach.jach.hawaii.edu/pressroom/2005-deepimpactlight/di-detection.png>

Schematic showing the dramatic increase in brightness of comet Tempel 1
as detected by the United Kingdom Infrared Telescope (UKIRT) following
the impact. Credit: Joint Astronomy Centre. Background photograph of
UKIRT by Nik Szymanek.

http://outreach.jach.hawaii.edu/pressroom/2005-deepimpactlight/di-detection.png
      
(PNG image, 1.9MB)

Plain version of above schematic:

<http://outreach.jach.hawaii.edu/pressroom/2005-deepimpactlight/di-detection-plain.png>

Schematic showing the dramatic increase in brightness of comet Tempel 1
as detected by the United Kingdom Infrared Telescope (UKIRT) following
the impact. Credit: Joint Astronomy Centre.

http://outreach.jach.hawaii.edu/pressroom/2005-deepimpactlight/di-detection-plain.png
(PNG image, 59kB)

<http://outreach.jach.hawaii.edu/pressroom/2005-deepimpactlight/ukirt-observers.jpg>

>From the United Kingdom Infrared Telescope (UKIRT) control room,
astronomers study Deep Impact and the comet Tempel 1. Foreground (left
to right): Steve Miller, Tom Stallard, Bob Barber. Background: Tim
Carroll. Photo credit: Paul Hirst, Joint Astronomy Centre.

http://outreach.jach.hawaii.edu/pressroom/2005-deepimpactlight/ukirt-observers.jpg
(JPG image, 2.7MB)

<http://outreach.jach.hawaii.edu/pressroom/2005-deepimpactlight/ukirt-sunset.jpg>

The United Kingdom Infrared Telescope (UKIRT) on the summit of Mauna
Kea. Credit: Andy Adamson, Joint Astronomy Centre.

http://outreach.jach.hawaii.edu/pressroom/2005-deepimpactlight/ukirt-sunset.jpg
(JPG image, 2.7MB)
    
Notes for editors
      
UKIRT

The world's largest telescope dedicated solely to infrared astronomy,
the 3.8-metre (12.5-foot) UK Infrared Telescope (UKIRT) is sited near
the summit of Mauna Kea, Hawaii, at an altitude of 4194 metres (13760
feet) above sea level. It is operated by the Joint Astronomy Centre in
Hilo, Hawaii, on behalf of the UK Particle Physics and Astronomy
Research Council (PPARC).
      
PPARC

The Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council (PPARC) is the UK's
strategic science investment agency. It funds research, education and
public understanding in four broad areas of science - particle physics,
astronomy, cosmology and space science. PPARC is government funded and
provides research grants and studentships to scientists in British
universities, gives researchers access to world-class facilities and
funds the UK membership of international bodies such as the European
Organisation for Nuclear Research, CERN, the European Space Agency and
the European Southern Observatory. It also contributes money for the UK
telescopes overseas on La Palma, Hawaii, Australia and in Chile, the UK
Astronomy Technology Centre at the Royal Observatory, Edinburgh and the
MERLIN/VLBI National Facility.


    Contacts

    * Dr. Paul Hirst, UKIRT Support Astronomer
      Joint Astronomy Centre, Hawaii
      Email: p.hirst_at_jach.hawaii.edu
      Tel: +1 808 969 6537
    * Prof. Steve Miller
      University College London
      Email: s.miller_at_ucl.ac.uk
      Tel: +1 808 935 1460 (until 9th July)
    * Dr. Andy Adamson, UKIRT Head of Operations
      Joint Astronomy Centre, Hawaii
      Email: a.adamson_at_jach.hawaii.edu
      Tel: +1 808 969 6511
    * Dr. Douglas Pierce-Price, Science Outreach Specialist
      Joint Astronomy Centre, Hawaii
      Email: outreach_at_jach.hawaii.edu
      Tel: +1 808 969 6524
Received on Fri 08 Jul 2005 06:11:12 PM PDT