Chandra Large and Very Large Projects

Proposal Number: 06100312

Title: Comet 9P/Tempel 1 During the Deep Impact Encounter

PI Name: Carey Lisse

We propose a series of observations of the periodic comet 9P/Tempel 1 in conjunction with NASA's Deep Impact mission. This mission is a spacecraft that will release a 370 kg impactor into the nucleus of the comet on July 4, 2005 at high relative velocity. Our primary objective is to study the generation of prompt x-rays in the impact plume and the change in charge exchange created x-rays as the impact ejecta propgates through the neutral coma. To this end we plan to obtain ACIS-S imaging spectroscopy before, during, and following the impact.