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Comet Tempel-1 from Stardust NeXT Spacecraft (Natural Colors; credits for the additional process. and color.: Dr Paolo C. Fienga - Lunexit Team)
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Caption NASA:"No Comet has ever been visited twice before. Therefore, the unprecedented pass of the Stardust-NeXT Spacecraft near Comet Tempel-1 in February 2011 gave Humanity a unique opportunity to see how the Nucleus of a Comet changes over time.
Changes in the Nucleus of Comet Tempel-1 were of particular interest because the Comet was hit with an impactor from the passing Deep Impact Spacecraft in 2005. Here is one digitally sharpened image of Comet Tempel-1 near the closest approach of Stardust-NeXT.
Visible are many features already imaged in 2005, including Craters, Ridges and seemingly smoother areas. Few firm conclusions are yet available, but over the next few years astronomers who specialize in Comets and the understanding the early Solar System will be poring over these images looking for new clues as to how Comet Tempel-1 is composed, how the 2005 Impact Site now appears, and how general features of the Comet have evolved".
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(Dettagli)
