Contact: Steve Koppes
s-koppes@uchicago.edu
773-702-8366
University of Chicago

Cometary Dust Captured in Aerogel

Caption: Microscopically magnified image of track 25, created by a particle from comet Wild 2 during its capture in aerogel, more informally known as "solid smoke." Four cometary particles are circled, including the ones designated Inti-B and Inti-C. Scientists had removed the larger Inti particle from the end of the track at right before the image was taken. The track measures less than a tenth of an inch long.

Credit: Image courtesy University of Washington

Usage Restrictions: This image may be reproduced by news organizations reporting research findings pertaining to NASA's Stardust mission to comet Wild 2.

Related news release: Comet particles provide glimpse of solar system's birth spasms