NASA Infrared Telescope Facility Observation of G Impact Site

Looking through fog and 98% humidity, we imaged impact G at 2.29 and
4.78 +/- 0.11 (M) microns with a time series of 0.9 sec integrations
taken every 7 sec in alternating filters.  The series began at 7:35
UT, when precipitation stopped briefly, with the site already bright.
The impact region increased sharply in brightness at M, eventually
saturating the detector during its brightest phase.  Although the
0.06"/pix images did not contain the entire planet, we estimate that
the impact site outshone the planet at M.  Rapidly varying fog
conditions prevented a real-time analysis of the 2.29-micron images.

The two accompanying images were taken in the M filter at 1994 July 18
07:39:45 (gplumem1.gif) and 07:41:41 (gplumem2.gif) UT.  The center of
the planet is well above and to the right of the image; only the
southwestern limb is visible.  Both images are saturated, but the site
is considerably brighter in the later image.

Orton, Baines, Esterle, Friedson, Goguen, Harrington, Kaminski, Lisse,
Miller, Shure, NASA IRTF Comet Collision Team