EPOXI 103P/Hartley2 Encounter: Calibrated Comet Images from MRI CCD

Calibrated images of comet 103P/Hartley 2 acquired by the Medium Resolution Visible CCD (MRI) during the EPOXI mission's encounter phase. The dataset includes clear-filter and CN images from 05 September through 26 November 2010, with OH, C2, and dust continuum images captured around closest approach. This collection was produced by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

Use Cases

• Analyze comet morphology and activity based on calibrated clear-filter images.
• Study the distribution of specific molecules like CN, OH, and C2 around the comet nucleus.
• Model dust continuum and coma development during the closest approach phase.
• Validate or train image processing algorithms for low-signal astronomical data.

Strengths

• Images are calibrated, which suggests a processed state suitable for scientific analysis.
• Data covers a defined encounter phase from 05 September to 26 November 2010.
• Includes multi-spectral observations (clear-filter, CN, OH, C2, dust continuum).
• Provenance is clear, originating from a NASA space mission.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• The dataset's scale (number of images, file size) is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Description metadata is limited; actual data quality requires manual inspection after download.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Collection Method

Acquired by the Medium Resolution Visible CCD (MRI) instrument on the EPOXI mission spacecraft.

Time Range

05 September through 26 November 2010

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-13 18:14:55.718958; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Space; observations of comet 103P/Hartley 2.