On 4 July 2005 the DeepImpact mission will impact a 370 kg projectile onto thenucleus of comet 9P/Tempel 1. As a consequence a vast amount of material isexpected to be released from the nucleus interior into space. The inducedoutburst of the comet.s nucleus will therefore provide the unique opportunity togain knowledge of the properties of cometmaterial usually no accessible forobservations. As the interior of a comet nucleus has been much less processed bysolar radiation and cosmic rays, it is believed to be different from the surfacecrust and the material sublimating there off. X-ray observations obtained (bychance) during a natural outburst of comet Hale-Bopp have shown a strongincrease in x-ray intensity related to the emerge of a dust-rich cloud.
Instrument
EMOS1, EMOS2, EPN, OM, RGS1, RGS2
Temporal Coverage
2005-07-03T13:47:45Z/2005-07-04T23:30:17Z
Version
PPS_NOT_AVAILABLE
Mission Description
The European Space Agencys (ESA) X-ray Multi-Mirror Mission (XMM-Newton) was launched by an Ariane 504 on December 10th 1999. XMM-Newton is ESAs second cornerstone of the Horizon 2000 Science Programme. It carries 3 high throughput X-ray telescopes with an unprecedented effective area, and an optical monitor, the first flown on a X-ray observatory. The large collecting area and ability to make long uninterrupted exposures provide highly sensitive observations. Since Earths atmosphere blocks out all X-rays, only a telescope in space can detect and study celestial X-ray sources. The XMM-Newton mission is helping scientists to solve a number of cosmic mysteries, ranging from the enigmatic black holes to the origins of the Universe itself. Observing time on XMM-Newton is being made available to the scientific community, applying for observational periods on a competitive basis.
European Space Agency, Dr Rita Schulz, 2008, 'The Interior of Comet 9P/Tempel 1', PPS_NOT_AVAILABLE, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-fd23c8h
