Deep Impact

around lunchtime on Friday, the 24th of June 2005 by Anarchy

I just wanted to throw out a reminder to everyone to get your big, honkin’ telescopes ready! There is less than 10 days left until "the day of the comet".

On July 4th, 2005… at 1:52am EDT… NASA’s "Deep Impact" spacecraft will arrive at and impact with the comet known as Tempel 1. By probing beneath the surface of a comet, NASA is hoping to reveal secrets which will lead to develop a better understanding of both our solar system was formed and implications of a large comet colliding with our planet.

The spacecraft left the confines of our atmosphere way back in December 2004, and has spent the last 6 months winging it’s way towards the comet. About 24 hours prior to impact, the spacecraft will seperate into 2 seperate units. The "flyby spacecraft" will use it’s tracking telescopes to observe and record the events to unfold. Meanwhile, the "impactor" will seperate from the rest of the spacecraft and collide with the comet.

With the combined speed of the Impactor and the comet coming together, it is estimated that the impact will occur at a speed of approximately 23,000 MPH (or about 6.3 miles per second). The resulting crater could range in size from a large house to the size of a football stadium…. and be anywhere from 2 - 14 stories deep. The impact and aftermath should be visible by professional and amateur astronomers at both large and small telescopes. If you’re not one of these fortunate few… then keep a watch out for the results on the web.

The only shame is that it’ll all be over by the time most of us break out the grill and the beer…

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Chad Says:
June 24th, 2005 at 6:55 pm Add karma

I heard some astrologer in Russia is suing NASA because crashing into the comet will upset his predictions.

Of course, if he was a real astrologer, he would have fortold what is going to happen to it, and made the necessary adjustments!!!

Beena Jain Says:
July 6th, 2005 at 11:06 am Add karma

You know what? If that astrologer is suing for the fact that the, ‘general balance of the universe will get affected’ but mostly for the fact that, ‘the astrologer’s moral and life values’ are affected then this astrologer should lose the case for the following reasons: Before the impact, a lot of things were also man made, like, automobiles that pollute the environment, houses that go against the general eco system by interfering in the life underground and above, medicines that were created by affecting animal life, etcetera. And since, the astrologer no doubt used all, the automobile, the medicine, the house, etc., therefore I have reason to believe that her moral and life values were already eroded even before the comet probe impact. As such I would consider Marina a danger to society by her own statements. Since I hate judging, I’d give her two choices - one, drop the case or be counter cased. Also, since experiments seem to be a must considering there is no danger or extravagance or hurt to another involved, therefore, since Marina posed a threat or an obstacle in the way of experimentation by NASA, I’d say that she should give her next self published book to every nation for free. She has a choice NOT TO WRITE IT. Also, if a ‘voice’ told her that this impact was not right, then if that voice belonged to God, it should be all logic, all intelligent and all wise. Since it’s not, I have reason to believe that the voice belonged not to God, but to the Devil instead. Essentially, I’d say to the astrologer, please THINK before you decide to take anyone to court and have substantial reason for doing so.

Deep Impact

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