[meteorite-list] Cometary Beauty

From: Meteorites USA <eric_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Wed, 16 Feb 2011 14:27:07 -0800
Message-ID: <4D5C4F3B.5010406_at_meteoritesusa.com>

Astronomy Picture of the Day: Comet Tempel 1 from Stardust-NeXT Spacecraft
No comet has ever been visited twice before. Therefore, the
unprecedented pass of the Stardust-NeXT spacecraft near Comet Tempel 1
earlier this week gave humanity a unique opportunity to see how the
nucleus of a comet changes over time. Changes in the nucleus of Comet
Tempel 1 were of particular interest because the comet was hit with an
impactor from the passing Deep Impact spacecraft in 2005. Pictured above
is one digitally sharpened image of Comet Tempel 1 near the closest
approach of Stardust-NeXT. Visible are many features imaged in 2005,
including craters, ridges, and seemingly smoother areas. Few firm
conclusions are yet available, but over the next few years astronomers
who specialize in comets and the understanding the early Solar System
will be poring over these images looking for new clues as to how Comet
Tempel 1 is composed, how the 2005 impact site now appears, and how
general features of the comet have evolved.
http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap110216.html
Received on Wed 16 Feb 2011 05:27:07 PM PST