The Deep Impact spacecraft encounter with comet Tempel 1 (Jul 4th
2005) was observed from the Anglo-Australian Telescope using the UCL
echelle spectrograph. Some preliminary results of the observationns are
shown here.
Size (FWHM) of the continuum image of Tempel 1 (near 470nm) measured
from
slit profiles of UCLES observations on July 4th, showing the expanding
dust
cloud following impact. The slit was oriented at PA 21.4 (perpendicular
to
the Sun vector). Image sizes have been corrected for seeing based on
observations of standard stars. The last three observations have much
higher uncertainty as there was much less light in the slit, and the
observations were at high airmass. The data show a linear increase in
FWHM of about 0.74 arcsec/hour (corresponding to an expansion velocity
of about 480 km/hr). Observer: Jeremy
Bailey (Australian Centre for Astrobiology, Macquarie University).
Comparison of CN band specta before (blue) and after (red) impact.
The post impact spectrum was obtained at 8:00 UT on Jul 4th
with the pre impact one at 8:14 UT on Jul 3 both with a total
exposure of 3000 seconds. UCLES on the 3.9m Anglo-Australian telescope
configured
identically for both spectra. Wavelength range 3860-3890A. Observer:
Jeremy
Bailey (Australian Centre for Astrobiology, Macquarie University)
Jul 3rd 2005
Uncalibrated spectrum of the CN band in Comet Tempel 1. Wavelength
range 3860-3890A. Resolving Power 43000. Observed with UCLES on the
3.9m Anglo-Australian Telescope 8:14 UT on Jul 3 2005. Observer Jeremy
Bailey.
Deep Impact Workshop (Sep 6th 2004)