This image shows the comet Wild 2, which NASA's Stardust spacecraft flew by on Jan. 2, 2004. This image is the closest short exposure of the comet, taken at an11.4-degree phase angle, the angle between the camera, comet and the Sun. The listed names on the diagram (see Figure 1) are those used by the Stardust team to identify features. "Basin" does not imply an impact origin.
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 | Dust, Grayscale, Impact | |
Acquisition Date | ||
Release Date | 2004-06-17 | |
Date in Caption | 2004-01-02 | |
Image Credit | NASA/JPL-Caltech | |
Source | photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA06285 | |
Identifier | PIA06285 |