[meteorite-list] Cometary Beauty

[Meteorites USA]

Astronomy Picture of the Day: Comet Tempel 1 from Stardust-NeXT Spacecraft
No comet has ever been visited twice before. Therefore, the 
unprecedented pass of the Stardust-NeXT spacecraft near Comet Tempel 1 
earlier this week 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. Pictured above 
is one digitally sharpened image of Comet Tempel 1 near the closest 
approach of Stardust-NeXT. Visible are many features 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.
http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap110216.html