Spacewatch images of 9P/Tempel 1

Subtracted images

9P/Tempel 1, 2005 July 4 UT image subtracted from July 5 UT image - This image is the result of subtracting the July 4 pre-impact summed image from the July 5 summed image. The part of the image in white near the center of the comet is new material created by the impact, having expanded for nearly 1 full day. The multiple black and white spots are field stars, the white spots being from the 2nd image.
9P/Tempel 1, 2005 July 4 UT image subtracted from July 6 UT image - This image is the result of subtracting the July 4 pre-impact summed image from the July 6 summed image. The part of the image in white near the center of the comet is new material created by the impact, having expanded for nearly 2 full days. Notice how the arc of material has expanded when compared with the first subtracted image.
9P/Tempel 1, 2005 July 4 UT image subtracted from July 7 UT image - This image is the result of subtracting the July 4 pre-impact summed image from the July 7 summed image. The part of the image in white near the center of the comet is new material created by the impact, having expanded for nearly 3 full days. Notice how the arc has continued to expand and to fade 3 days after impact.

Co-added images

9P/Tempel 1, 2005 June 30 UT - This image was obtained on June 30, 2005 by Anne S. Descour using the Spacewatch 1.8-m telescope in drift scan mode. Three images were coadded by James V. Scotti, giving an effective exposure time of about 414 seconds. Slightly more structure is visible in the inner coma with some jet-like structures at two different position angles inthe fan shaped coma or tail structure. North is to the right and west at the bottom and the field of view is about 10.7 arcminutes N-S and 8.3 arcminutes E-W. Here is a median combined version of the same three images.
9P/Tempel 1, 2005 July 3 UT - This image was obtained on July 3, 2005 by Tom Gehrels using the Spacewatch 1.8-m telescope in drift scan mode. Three images were coadded by James V. Scotti, giving an effective exposure time of about 414 seconds. The fan shaped inner coma extends to the southeast (at about 10 O'Clock) with a very faint dust trail or tail extending east-southeast (at about 11 O'Clock). North is to the right and west at the bottom and the field of view is about 10.7 arcminutes N-S and 8.3 arcminutes E-W. Here is a median combined version of the same three images.
9P/Tempel 1, 2005 July 4 UT - before impact of Deep Impact - This image was obtained on July 4, 2005 by James V. Scotti using the Spacewatch 1.8-m telescope in drift scan mode in the hours before the impact of the Deep Impact Spacecraft. Five images were coadded giving an effective exposure time of about 694 seconds. The comet has not changed significantly since the previous night. North is to the right and west at the bottom and the field of view is about 12.6 arcminutes N-S and 11.2 arcminutes E-W.
9P/Tempel 1, 2005 July 5 UT - This image was obtained on July 5, 2005 by Miwa Block using the Spacewatch 1.8-m telescope in drift scan mode. Three images were coaded by James V. Scotti, giving an effective exposure time of about 416 seconds. Superimposed on the fan shaped coma and towards the west is an arc or shell of material that exploded from the Deep Impact spacecraft impact crater. North is to the right and west at the bottom and the field of view is about 12.6 arcminutes N-S and 11.2 arcminutes E-W. Here is a median combined version of the same three images.
9P/Tempel 1, 2005 July 6 UT - This image was obtained on July 6, 2005 by Miwa Block using the Spacewatch 1.8-m telescope in drift scan mode. Three images were coadded by James V. Scotti, giving an effective expoture time of about 416 seconds. The shell of material from the impact of Deep Impact on Sunday night has continued to expand (compare this to the July 5 image). North is to the right and west at the bottom and the field of view is about 10.3 arcminutes N-S and 7.4 arcminutes E-W. Here is a median combined version of the same three images.
9P/Tempel 1, 2005 July 7 UT - This image was obtained on July 7, 2005 by James V. Scotti using the Spacewatch 1.8-m telescope in drift scan mode. Three images were coadded giving an effective expoture time of about 416 seconds. The shell of material from the impact of Deep Impact on Sunday night has continued to expand and to disipate (compare this to the July 5 and July 6 images). North is to the right and west at the bottom and the field of view is about 8.6 arcminutes N-S and 8.1 arcminutes E-W.
9P/Tempel 1, 2005 July 8 UT - This image was obtained on July 8, 2005 by James V. Scotti using the Spacewatch 1.8-m telescope in drift scan mode. Three images were coadded giving an effective expoture time of about 416 seconds. The shell of material from the impact of Deep Impact on Sunday night has continued to expand and to disipate (compare this to other post-impact images). North is to the right and west at the bottom and the field of view is about 10.3 arcminutes N-S and 7.4 arcminutes E-W.
9P/Tempel 1, 2005 July 9 UT - This image was obtained on July 9, 2005 by James V. Scotti using the Spacewatch 1.8-m telescope in drift scan mode. Three images were coadded giving an effective exposure time of about 419 seconds. Very faint jet structure appears to be visible in this image. North is to the right and west at the bottom and the field of view is about 10.3 arcminutes N-S and 7.4 arcminutes E-W.

All Spacewatch material is copyrighted by the Arizona Board of Regents, with which all rights are reserved.

External Links:

JPL Deep Impact Tempel 1 information and science page.
The orbit of Tempel 1 (from JPL's Deep Impact website)
The Planetary Society Tempel 1 page.
Deep Impact flyby spacecraft image gallery.
Deep Impact image gallery.
HST images of developing inner coma.

Last updated 2005 July 9 by JVS.