Deep Impact: Excavating Comet Tempel 1

A’Hearn, Michael F.; Belton, M. J. S.; Delamere, W. A.; Kissel, J.; Klaasen, K. P.; McFadden, L. A.; Meech, K. J.; Melosh, H. J.; Schultz, P. H.; Sunshine, J. M.; Thomas, P. C.; Veverka, J.; Yeomans, D. K.; Baca, M.; Busko, I.; Crockett, Christopher; Collins, S.M.; Desnoyer, M.; Eberhardy, C. A.; Ernst, C. M.; Farnham, T. L.; Feaga, Lori M.; Groussin, O.; Hampton, D. L.; Ипатов, С. И.; Li, Jian‐Yang; Lindler, Don J.; Lisse, C. M.; Mastrodemos, Nickolaos; Owen, W. M.; Richardson, J. E.; Wellnitz, D. D.; White, R. L.

doi:10.1126/science.1118923

articleScienceSep 9, 2005Closed access

Deep Impact: Excavating Comet Tempel 1

MFMichael F. A’Hearn MJM. J. S. Belton WAW. A. Delamere JKJ. Kissel KPK. P. Klaasen

Jet Propulsion Laboratory · University of Colorado Boulder · +7 more institutions

Indexed incrossref

Abstract

Deep Impact collided with comet Tempel 1, excavating a crater controlled by gravity. The comet's outer layer is composed of 1- to 100-micrometer fine particles with negligible strength (<65 pascals). Local gravitational field and average nucleus density (600 kilograms per cubic meter) are estimated from ejecta fallback. Initial ejecta were hot (>1000 kelvins). A large increase in organic material occurred during and after the event, with smaller changes in carbon dioxide relative to water. On approach, the spacecraft observed frequent natural outbursts, a mean radius of 3.0 Â± 0.1 kilometers, smooth and rough terrain, scarps, and impact craters. A thermal map indicates a surface in equilibrium with…

Citation impact

846

total citations

FWCI: 64.84
Percentile: 100%
References: 20

Citations per year

Authors

33

Topics & keywords

Topics

Keywords

Ejecta
Impact crater
Comet
Fault scarp
RADIUS
Geology
Astrobiology
Physics

No related works found for this paper.