XMM-Newton detects water on Tempel 1

Images taken by the Optical Monitor on board ESA’s XMM-Newton observatory on 3 and 4 July 2005, show a comparison between the states of the comet before and just after impact.

The images were taken in the blue (top) and ultraviolet channels (bottom) of the instrument. The ultraviolet images show the emissions of hydroxyl ions, the direct decay product of water.

About 1.5 hours after the impact, the brightness of hydroxyl groups is increased by a factor of about five. Later, about 4.5 hours after the impact the ultraviolet emission is decreased again which indicates that the peak has passed.

The presence of water in Tempel 1 is consistent with preliminary measurements of the composition of the comet made last week by the ALICE instrument on ESA’s Rosetta spacecraft.

For more information:

Rita Schulz, Principal Investigator for XMM-Newton Tempel 1 observations,
ESA-ESTEC (The Netherlands)
E-mail: rita.schulz @ esa.int

Norbert Schartel, ESA XMM-Newton Project Scientist, ESAC (Spain)
E-mail: norbert.schartel @ sciops.esa.int

Monica Talevi
Science Information Manager
Tel: +31 71 565 3223
Fax: +31 71 565 4101
Email: Monica.Talevi@esa.int

The image associated to this release is available at: http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Rosetta/SEMPRZ5DIAE_0.html

More XMM-Newton views of comet Tempel-1 are available at: http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Rosetta/SEMS8Y5DIAE_0.html

For more information about ESA’s contribution to the Deep Impact observation campaign visit: http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Rosetta/index.html