Imaging polarimetry of the dust coma of the deep impact target comet Tempel 1

Abstract

We have observed comet 9P/Tempel 1 (the target of the Deep Impact mission) by a polarization imaging technique before and after impact with the 80 cm telescope at Haute-Provence observatory (France). The ejected material is well observed in our images and differences in physical properties are characterized. © 2009 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.