Deep Impact observations by OSIRIS onboard the Rosetta spacecraft

Science. 2005 Oct 14;310(5746):281-3. doi: 10.1126/science.1119020. Epub 2005 Sep 8.

Abstract

The OSIRIS cameras (optical, spectroscopic, and infrared remote imaging system) onboard the European Space Agency's Rosetta spacecraft observed comet 9P/Tempel 1 for 17 days continuously around the time of NASA's Deep Impact mission. The cyanide-to-water production ratio was slightly enhanced in the impact cloud, compared with that of normal comet activity. Dust particles were flowing outward in the coma at >160 meters per second, accelerated by the gas. The slope of the brightness increase showed a dip about 200 seconds after the impact. Dust Afrho values before and long after the impact confirm the slight decrease of cometary activity. The dust-to-water mass ratio was much larger than 1.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cosmic Dust
  • Meteoroids*
  • Organic Chemicals / analysis
  • Spacecraft
  • Spectrophotometry, Infrared
  • Spectrum Analysis

Substances

  • Cosmic Dust
  • Organic Chemicals