Tempel 1 facts for kids
Tempel 1 is a special space object called a comet. It travels around the Sun, completing one trip every 5.5 years. An astronomer named Ernest Tempel first found it in 1867. On July 4, 2005, something amazing happened: NASA sent a spacecraft from its Deep Impact mission to hit the comet. This caused a big explosion! Scientists then studied the bits that flew off to learn what the comet was made of. They found that part of Tempel 1 was covered in water ice, like a huge skating rink about 7 acres (3 ha) in size. This was the very first time anyone had found clear proof of water on a comet.
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What is Comet Tempel 1?
Comets are often called "dirty snowballs" of space. They are made of ice, dust, and rock. Tempel 1 is one of these icy travelers. It follows a path around the Sun, just like Earth does. But its path is much longer and takes it far away before it comes back closer to the Sun.
The Deep Impact Mission
Why Did NASA Hit a Comet?
NASA launched the Deep Impact mission to learn more about comets. Scientists believe comets hold clues about how our solar system formed. By looking inside a comet, they hoped to find out what materials were present when the planets first began to form billions of years ago.
How the Mission Worked
The Deep Impact spacecraft had two main parts. One part was the "flyby" craft, which stayed at a safe distance. The other part was a smaller "impactor" that weighed about as much as a small car. On July 4, 2005, the impactor was aimed right at Tempel 1. It crashed into the comet at a very high speed.
The Big Explosion
When the impactor hit Tempel 1, it created a huge flash of light and a cloud of dust and gas. This was like a giant firework display in space! The flyby craft watched from afar, taking pictures and gathering information about the explosion. It also looked at the new crater that was formed on the comet's surface.
What Did Scientists Discover?
Finding Water Ice
By studying the material that came out of the explosion, scientists made an exciting discovery. They found a lot of water ice on Tempel 1. This was a big deal because it was the first time water had been directly confirmed on a comet. It showed that comets can carry a lot of water.
Other Materials Found
Besides water ice, scientists also found other materials like dust and rocky bits. This helped them understand the mix of ingredients that make up comets. Learning about these materials helps us understand what the early solar system was like.
Images for kids
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Tempel 1 in X-ray light by Chandra
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'Before and after' comparison images from Deep Impact and Stardust, showing the crater formed by Deep Impact on the right hand image.
See also
In Spanish: 9P/Tempel 1 para niños
