PIA05578: Comet Wild 2 - Jet Release


Comet Wild 2 - Jet Release

Caption:

This composite image was taken by the navigation camera during the close approach phase of Stardust's Jan 2, 2004 flyby of comet Wild 2. Several large depressed regions can be seen. Comet Wild 2 is about five kilometers (3.1 miles) in diameter. To create this image, a short exposure image showing tremendous surface detail was overlain on a long exposure image taken just 10 seconds later showing jets. Together, the images show an intensely active surface, jetting dust and gas streams into space and leaving a trail millions of kilometers long.

Cataloging Keywords:

Name Value Additional Values
Target 81P/Wild
System Periodic Comets
Target Type Comet
Mission Stardust
Instrument Host Stardust
Host Type Sample Return
Instrument Navigation Camera (NC)
Detector
Extra Keywords Color, Dust
Acquisition Date
Release Date 2004-03-18
Date in Caption 2004-01-02
Image Credit NASA/JPL-Caltech
Source photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA05578
Identifier PIA05578