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Figuring out Tempel 1’s rotation

Figuring out Tempel 1’s rotation
Figuring out Tempel 1’s rotation The top graph shows a light curve for comet Tempel 1 as measured by the Hubble Space Telescope. It has a prominent double-humped shape. Astronomers attempt to explain this shape with a model of a rotating Tempel 1 that presents alternately wider and narrower cross-sections of the comet to view (second and third graphs). However, the model also admits a second solution (bottom graph). If the second solution is true, then Stardust will see exactly the opposite face of Tempel 1's nucleus as expected when it flies past, and the Deep Impact crater won't be seen at all. Again. Which would be a big bummer; but we'd see lots of areas of the comet that weren't seen before in addition to some that already have. NASA / JPL / Steve Chesley