Comet Tempel 1 is a small comet measuring about 7.6 by 4.9 km (4.7 by 3 mi). It orbits the Sun every 5.51 years. The Deep Impact space probe studied the comet at close range in a flyby in 2005. The comet is dark gray with a dusty surface. The bright explosion in this image resulted from an impact device that was fired into the comet. The Deep Impact probe and telescopes on Earth recorded the effects of the impact. Scientists are studying data about the material blasted out of the crater to learn the composition of Tempel 1.
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