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Deep Impact

Comets are among the most primitive objects in the solar system, containing beneath their surface relatively unchanged chemical and physical records from the time the system was formed some 4.6 billion years ago — clues to the primordial soup from which life on Earth eventually emerged. By creating a large crater in the elongated comet — a mass of ice, rock and dust — and then to observe the crater’s development, measurements and ejected matter. Scientists believe they can reveal some secrets of comets and the solar system.

So, they sent a $333-million U.S.spacecraft named Deep Impact to hit a comet called Temple-1 and the 37,000-kph collision created the biggest Fourth of July blast ever. When the cosmic smash-up occurred on Monday, some 130 million kilometers from Earth, scientists and people around the world leapt to their feet in rapturous applause.

The impactor was destroyed when it hit the comet but its traveling companion, Deep Impact’s fly-by craft, is recording scientific data and sending them back to earth.

Even as the data begins filtering back to Earth, the Deep Impact mission has already answered a number of scientific questions. The comet is not so fluffy that it would completely disintegrate at time of impact.

This was a violent event that really dominated the comet’s appearance after the impact. The brightness increased over 10 minutes, then leveled off. It is still very visible. Now scientists are eager to see the newly exposed surface.

Scientists hope Deep Impact will have its greatest impact after its data are fully analyzed.

posted by: kyawoo at 21:27 | link | comments |
comets

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