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[Image: Deep Impact Team & NASA/JPL] |
On 2005 July 04, the Deep Impact spacecraft
completed its 6 month journey to the ~14x4x4 km3 comet Temple-1.
The 370 kg Impactor probe produced this image taken from the Flyby spacecraft. Preliminary analysis of the impact and the resultant crater indicates the upper surface of the comet may be "fluffy, or highly porous". |
The latest news, images & movies are available via the Deep Impact Home Page
and on a lighter note...
[Text adapted from the Deep Impact Factsheet from NASA/JPL]
[Image: Deep Impact Team & NASA/JPL] |
On 2005 July 04, the Deep Impact spacecraft will complete its 6 month journey from Earth, and "catch-up" with the comet Temple-1. Temple-1 was discovered by Wilhelm Tempel in 1867, it is ~14x4x4 km3 in size, and currently passes through the inner solar system every 5.5 years. Comets are thought to be composed of (ice, gas & gas) debris from the formation of the solar system 4.5 billion years ago. They are thus "time-capulses" containing clues on the formation and evolution of the Solar system. |
| But what's inside? The interior structure of comets are not well understood. Thus ~24hrs prior to closest approach, the main Deep Impact Flyby spacecraft will select a suitable site on Tempel-1, and release an 370 kg Impactor probe. This probe will set on collision course with the comet, finally impacting at 10 km s-1. This collision is expected to produce a crater, which (depending on Tempel-1's structure) is expected to range in size from a that of a small house to a sport's stadium. The impact, ejected material, and resultant crater will all be recorded by the Flyby spacecraft, and the images beamed back to Earth. |
[Image: Deep Impact Team & NASA/JPL] |
[Image: Deep Impact Team & NASA/JPL] |
The comet is approximately 10th magnitude (& hence potentially
visible with small telescopes), and will be just NE of the bright star
Spica in the constellation of Virgo (and just SE of
the even brighter Jupiter). However, unfortunately, from Baltimore
observations in twilight will be challenging.
[Image: Deep Impact Team & NASA/JPL]
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For more information on the Deep Impact mission (science facts, images, animations, latest news etc), see
Information regarding observations by the UMBC Telescope may be posted on the Joint Center for Astrophysics Homepage.
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