Dust Grains from 9P/Tempel 1 Before and After the Encounter with Deep Impact

Gemini-N observed the properties of dust ejected from the nucleus of comet 9P/Tempel 1 before and after its encounter with Deep Impact. Marked changes were seen in the 7.8- to 13-micrometer spectral energy distribution and derived grain properties of the inner coma. A strong, broad silicate feature...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) 2005-10, Vol.310 (5746), p.278-280
Main Authors: Harker, David E, Woodward, Charles E, Wooden, Diane H
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Analysis
Astronomical research
Astrophysics
Climate
Cometary comas
Comets
Cosmic Dust
Electronic publishing
Meteoroids
Natural history
Observational astronomy
Observational research
Olivine
Organic Chemicals - analysis
Particle resonance
Pyroxenes
Silicates
Spectrophotometry, Infrared
Spectrum analysis
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Summary:Gemini-N observed the properties of dust ejected from the nucleus of comet 9P/Tempel 1 before and after its encounter with Deep Impact. Marked changes were seen in the 7.8- to 13-micrometer spectral energy distribution and derived grain properties of the inner coma. A strong, broad silicate feature dominated by emission from amorphous pyroxene, amorphous olivine, and magnesium-rich crystalline olivine had developed by 1 hour after impact. The ejected dust mass is [congruent]10⁴ to 10⁶ kilograms on the basis of our models. Twenty-six hours later the silicate feature had faded, leaving a smooth featureless spectrum, similar to that observed before the impact, suggesting that the impact did not produce a new active region releasing small particles on the nucleus.
ISSN:0036-8075
1095-9203
DOI:10.1126/science.1119143