Tempel 1

Tempel 1 is a comet located in the solar system, known for its brightening activity when it approaches the Sun. It has a rough, icy core called a nucleus, about 6 kilometers across, surrounded by a glowing atmosphere called a coma, which forms as the ice vaporizes. When it gets close to the Sun, solar heat causes dust and gas to stream off, creating a tail that always points away from the Sun. Tempel 1 is notable for its regular, predictable visits to the inner solar system and was the target of NASA's Deep Impact mission, which intentionally collided with it to study its interior.