Expected image area for Stardust Tempel 1 flyby

Filed under explaining image processing, comets, comet Tempel 1, Deep Impact, Stardust

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Expected image area for Stardust Tempel 1 flyby

A map of comet Tempel 1 shows the areas not imaged in 2005 by Deep Impact in bright blue. The yellow area was expected to be seen during the Stardust flyby on February 14/15, 2011. The red bull's eye indicates the location of the Deep Impact mission's impact crater.

NASA / JPL / UMD

Here's another way of looking at the expected views:

NASA / JPL / UMD

Expected views of Tempel 1's nucleus during Stardust flyby

A shape model of Tempel 1 shows that only half of it was seen in sunlight by Deep Impact; the blue areas have never been imaged. On approach, Stardust had the Deep Impact crater at the center of its view (top right); on departure, Stardust saw territory that was not imaged before (lower left).

Original image data dated on or about February 14, 2011