Wide field deep color imaging of comet Tempel1 by the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope (Pre-impact)
New: CFHT images animation during the impact
Image description:

This color image was obtained by stacking several exposures obtained in two independent filters. The elongation of the comet "core" as it appears on these images is due to the slow proper motion of the object against the fixed background of stars from our own galaxy and distant galaxies, on which the telescope was tracking during the set of exposures. The images were taken over a period of 15 minutes (taken on on June 29th, 2005 at 20:10PM HST), enough to cause the apparent elongation of the comet's core.

Full field of view
Close-up on comet and nearby bright stars
Close-up on comet and background galaxies




Full MegaPrime field of view

Various resolution downloads:
[Scaled 1/7th: 2478x2651 pixels - JPEG - 3 MB] 
[Scaled 1/14th: 1239x1325 pixels - JPEG - 387 KB] 
[Scaled 1/28th: 619x662 pixels - JPEG - 104 KB] 


Image description:

The Tempel1 comet is caught here against a background of stars (with two especially bright ones) as it crossed the sky passing in front of the Virgo constellation.

Technical description:
MegaPrime / MegaCam (central 36 CCDs - 18Kx18K pixels)
Field of view: 60'x60' (1 square degree)
Filters used: g' - i'
Exposure times:
    g':   150 seconds
    i':  150 seconds
Observed at CFHT 

Credit line: "Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope / 2005"
Copyright © 2005 Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope Corporation





Close-up on comet and nearby bright stars

Various resolution downloads:
[Scaled 1/3rd: 2584x2033 pixels - JPEG - 1.7 MB] 
[Scaled 1/6th: 1292x1016 pixels - JPEG - 430 KB] 
[Scaled 1/12th: 646x508 pixels - JPEG - 115 KB] 


Image description:

The two circular structures around the bright stars are due to internal reflections in the optics of the instrument. Numerous background galaxies are now visible on this image.

Credit line: "Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope / 2005"
Copyright © 2005 Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope Corporation





Close-up on comet and distant background galaxies

Various resolution downloads:
[Scaled 1/3rd: 1172x872 pixels - JPEG - 428 KB] 
[Scaled 1/6th: 586x436 pixels - JPEG - 92 KB] 

Image description:

The coma of the comet is clearly visible here. Notice the hundreds of distant background galaxies.

Credit line: "Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope / 2005"
Copyright © 2005 Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope Corporation