HD molecules in the vibrational states v" = 5-7 have been detected following the irradiation of a cold (15 K) graphite surface with H and D atoms. The relative rotational populations of the observed vibrational states have been determined and the average rotational temperatures of each vibrational state have been calculated. These new results are combined with previous data, for the formation of HD in v" = 1-4 on graphite at 15 K, to estimate the nascent vibrational distribution. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.