Hubble Captures Outburst From Tempel 1

[zavvy]

<b>Hubble Captures Outburst From Tempel 1</b><br /><br />LINK<br /><br />The images (see below) are a reminder that Tempel 1's icy nucleus, roughly the size of central Paris, is dynamic and volatile. Astronomers hope the eruption of dust seen in these observations is a preview of the fireworks that may come 4 July, when a probe from the Deep Impact spacecraft will slam into the comet, possibly blasting off material and giving rise to a similar dust plume. <br /><br />These observations demonstrate that Hubble's sharp "eye" can see exquisite details of the comet's temperamental activities. The Earth-orbiting observatory was 120 million kilometres away from the comet when these images were taken by the Advanced Camera for Surveys' High Resolution Camera. The telescope's views complement close-up images being taken by cameras aboard Deep Impact, which is speeding toward the comet. <br /><br />The two images, taken seven hours apart on 14 June, show Tempel 1 and its new jet. The image at left, taken at 7:17 a.m. (UT), is a view of the comet before the outburst. The bright dot is light reflecting from the comet's nucleus, which appears star-like in these images because it is too small even for Hubble to resolve. The nucleus, a potato-shaped object, is 7 kilometres across and 2 kilometres long. Hubble's viewing the nucleus is as difficult as someone trying to spot a potato in Stockholm from Madrid. <br /><br />The photo at right, snapped at 14:15 a.m. (UT), reveals the jet [the bright fan-shaped area]. The jet extends about 2,200 kilometers, which is roughly the distance from Copenhagen to Athens. It is pointing in the direction of the Sun. Comets frequently show outbursts in activity, but astronomers still don't know exactly why they occur. Tempel 1 has been moving closer to the Sun, and perhaps the increasing heat opened up a crack in the comet's dark, crusty surface. Dust and gas trapped

 

[chew_on_this]

Maybe it's trying to steer away from our impactor?

 

[mrmorris]

<font color="yellow">"Maybe it's trying to steer away..."</font><br /><br />Actually -- I think that it just realized that the impactor was headed right for it and had a 'brown pants' moment.

 

[chew_on_this]

Maybe a little indigestion from the interplanetary taco bell?

 

[scottb50]

Funny, but in reality every action creates a reaction. It wouldn't take that much to create a change in Tempel 1's orbit. I doubt flares such as this have a big effect but since it is pointing toward the direction the comet is traveling it has to have some effect lowering it's orbit. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[scottb50]

I doubt it is more than a few feet, or so, but, it has to have an effect. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>