Comet Wild 2 - Jet Release Target Name:   Comet Wild-2 Spacecraft:   Stardust Instrument:   Navigation Camera Produced by:   NASA/JPL Copyright:  NASA Copyright Free Policy Cross Reference:   PIA05578 Date Taken:   2 January 2004 Date Released:  2 June 2004

• Comet P/Wild-2
• Comet Introduction

This composite image was taken by the navigation camera during the close approach phase of Stardust's Jan 2, 2004 flyby of comet Wild 2. Several large depressed regions can be seen. Comet Wild 2 is about five kilometers (3.1 miles) in diameter. To create this image, a short exposure image showing tremendous surface detail was overlain on a long exposure image taken just 10 seconds later showing jets. Together, the images show an intensely active surface, jetting dust and gas streams into space and leaving a trail millions of kilometers long.