XMM-Newton detects water on Tempel 1


 
XMM-Newton detects water on Tempel 1
 
4 July 2005
 
These images, taken by the Optical Monitor on board ESA's XMM-Newton observatory on 3 and 4 July 2005, show a comparison between the states of the comet before and just after impact.
 
The images were taken in the blue (top) and ultraviolet channels (bottom) of the instrument. The ultraviolet images show the emissions of hydroxyl ions, the direct decay product of water.

About 1.5 hours after the impact, the brightness of hydroxyl groups is increased by a factor of about five. Later, about 4.5 hours after the impact the ultraviolet emission is decreased again which indicates that the peak has passed.
 
 
 The presence of water in Tempel 1 is consistent with preliminary measurements of the composition of the comet made last week by the ALICE instrument on ESA's Rosetta spacecraft.
 
 
 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_index_0.html)
 •  XMM-Newton to observe Deep Impact (http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEMSZC2DU8E_index_0.html)
 •  Hubble sees outburst from Deep Impact comet (http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEMSBN5DIAE_index_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/esaCP/SEMQR06DIAE_index_0.html)
 •  Tempel 1 is weak X-ray source, XMM-Newton confirms (http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEMXA46DIAE_index_0.html)