First XMM-Newton images of impact


 
Animation the first XMM-Newton images of impact
 
4 July 2005
 
Images of Comet 9P/Tempel 1 taken by the Optical Monitor on ESA's XMM-Newton observatory, from two minutes before impact and until seven minutes after impact.
 
The first two images were taken just before impact, and in the following images the brightening due to impact is visible.
 
 
   
Collage of the XMM-Newton images
 
These images were taken with the Optical Monitor blue filter, with which it is possible to measure the outcoming gas and dust. More images from the Optical Monitor are expected in the next hours.

Measurements with other XMM-Newton instruments should provide information about the chemical composition of the outcoming material.
  
 
 For more information:
  
Rita Schulz, Principal Investigator for XMM-Newton Tempel 1 observations, ESA-ESTEC (The Netherlands)
E-mail: rita.schulz @ esa.int

Norbert Schartel, ESA XMM-Newton Project Scientist, ESAC (Spain)
E-mail: norbert.schartel @ sciops.esa.int
 
 
 •  ESA's comet chaser (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Rosetta/index.html)

More about...

 •  Rosetta factsheet (http://www.esa.int/esaSC/SEMJUZS1VED_index_0.html)
 •  XMM-Newton factsheet (http://www.esa.int/esaSC/SEM14YS1VED_index_0.html)
 •  Hubble factsheet (http://www.esa.int/esaSC/SEMB5E1A6BD_index_0.html)
 •  NASA Deep Impact (http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/deepimpact/main/index.html)
 •  ESO Deep Impact news (http://www.eso.org/outreach/press-rel/pr-2005/pr-15-05.html)

Related articles

 •  Life of a comet (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Rosetta/SEM3NV0PGQD_0.html)
 •  Tempel 1: Biography of a comet (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Rosetta/SEMIUG0DU8E_0.html)
 •  Rosetta monitors Deep Impact (http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEMCOZ1DU8E_Expanding_0.html)
 •  XMM-Newton to observe Deep Impact (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Rosetta/SEMSZC2DU8E_0.html)
 •  Hubble sees outburst from Deep Impact comet (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Rosetta/SEMSBN5DIAE_0.html)
 •  ESA observes Deep Impact from Earth (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Rosetta/SEMNRO5DIAE_0.html)
 •  Dust and gas from Comet 9P/Tempel 1 seen by ESA OGS (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Rosetta/SEMQR06DIAE_0.html)
 •  Tempel 1 is weak X-ray source, XMM-Newton confirms (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Rosetta/SEMXA46DIAE_0.html)