First Halley multicolour camera imaging results from Giotto

Abstract

The Giotto spacecraft's Halley Multicolor Camera imaging results have furnished flyby images that are centered on the brightest part of the inner coma; these show the silouette of a large, solid and irregularly shaped cometary nucleus and jetlike dust activity. The preliminary assessment of these data has yielded information on the dimensions and shape of the nucleus and dust emission activity. It is noted that only minor parts of the surface are active, with most of the surface being covered by a nonvolatile material. Dust jets dominate the inner coma, and are restricted to a subsolar hemisphere.