Skyguy
07-04-2005, 04:19 PM
The NASA's Deep Impact comet exploration mission succeeded in it's quest to impact a small probe into comet Tempel 1 early this morning (~1:52 am EDT)!
The impact energy of the small copper probe released the equivilant of approx. 5 tones of TNT, however, initial observations of the blast effects seemed to indicate a much more energetic explosion. Like most of the other results, we will have to wait a bit to find out exactly what happened, but this look 'inside' a comet is certainly going to bring a tonne of surprises!
BTW... The comet can be viewed from here in Southern Ontario - BUT..... Not without very clear, dark skies & a good telescope. (Sorry!)
Here are a few pages with pictures, movies & information about the event.:
http://deepimpact.jpl.nasa.gov/science/tempel1.html
http://hubblesite.org/newscenter/newsdesk/archive/releases/2005/17/video/a
http://www.spaceweather.com/
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/deepimpact/main/index.html
The impact energy of the small copper probe released the equivilant of approx. 5 tones of TNT, however, initial observations of the blast effects seemed to indicate a much more energetic explosion. Like most of the other results, we will have to wait a bit to find out exactly what happened, but this look 'inside' a comet is certainly going to bring a tonne of surprises!
BTW... The comet can be viewed from here in Southern Ontario - BUT..... Not without very clear, dark skies & a good telescope. (Sorry!)
Here are a few pages with pictures, movies & information about the event.:
http://deepimpact.jpl.nasa.gov/science/tempel1.html
http://hubblesite.org/newscenter/newsdesk/archive/releases/2005/17/video/a
http://www.spaceweather.com/
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/deepimpact/main/index.html