EPOXI Mission: Infrared Spectral Images of Comet 103P/Hartley 2, 2010

NASA's EPOXI mission collected calibrated 1.05- to 4.8-micron spectral images of comet 103P/Hartley 2 using the High Resolution Infrared Spectrometer (HRII). The data covers the encounter phase from 01 October through 26 November 2010. Version 3.0 includes enhanced calibration steps such as per-pixel linearity correction, updated dark subtraction methods, and refined spectral calibration.

Use Cases

• Analyzing comet composition and surface features based on calibrated infrared spectral images.
• Studying temporal changes in comet activity during the 2010 encounter phase.
• Validating infrared spectral calibration and image processing techniques based on the described pipeline enhancements.
• Comparing cometary spectral data with models of solar system body reflectance.

Strengths

• Data is calibrated with specific enhancements described for Version 3.0, including per-pixel linearity correction.
• Covers a defined observation period from 01 October through 26 November 2010.
• Spectral range is explicitly stated as 1.05 to 4.8 microns.
• Originates from the authoritative NASA EPOXI mission.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count and file size are unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Data may reflect temporal and instrumental bias inherent to the single mission and observation window.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Collection Method

Acquired by the High Resolution Infrared Spectrometer (HRII) during the EPOXI mission's Hartley 2 encounter phase.

Time Range

01 October through 26 November 2010

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-13 13:30:34.237278; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Space-based observations of comet 103P/Hartley 2.