Hubble captures impact before and after

This sequence shows the comet before and after the impact. It starts with the comet just minutes before the impact. The encounter occurred at 07:52 CEST (05:52 UT/GMT).

The impact caused a brilliant flash of light (flare) and a constant increase in the brightness of the inner cloud of dust and gas. Hubble continued to monitor the comet, snapping images here until 62 minutes after the encounter. The sequence ends with the gas and dust ejected during the impact expanding outward in the shape of a fan.