The real "Deep Impact"

[Dragonrock]

Today NASA launched a probe named "Deep Impact" whose mission is to crash into a comet to give us a look at the interior. The launch window was 1 second long and the expected impact date is the 4th of July

http://deepimpact.jpl.nasa.gov/

[BillC]

I find difficult to understand how can a launch window be as short as 1 second. Anyway, this looks an interesting project -- rockets, science, astronomy and high-speed crashes all thrown in together...!

[Kopji]

Dear Abby:
Not to offend any of the science community, but doesn't this sound a little patronizing as far as getting research grants goes? I mean, I can see the addendum on the paperwork:

"PS: And besides the really great science, it will cause a spectacular show on the fourth of July. Advertising to the world once again that the US has still got it...

Thank you for your consideration of my project"

And not that any of it's true, it just seems like the "one second window" would be for a target date of July 4th and other windows would be perfectly ok for less significant dates. Otherwise, doesn't this seem a little risky to invest all this money for a one second launch window?

Sincerely yours,
Puzzled in Arizona

[Neutiquam Erro]

Uh-oh, looks like this mission might be in trouble...

Russian Astrologist Sues NASA (http://www.space.com/astronotes/astronotes.html)

[wahrheit]

Originally posted by Neutiquam Erro
Uh-oh, looks like this mission might be in trouble...

Russian Astrologist Sues NASA (http://www.space.com/astronotes/astronotes.html)
http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=55766

[Kopji]

Someone's going to figure out that I've had a life of cheap hobbies: Stamp collecting, bird watching, hiking, space stuff...

So I'm out this month trying to find Tempel 1. Should be easy thinks I, since it is pretty close to Jupiter. The space.com advice sounds good - take a look at the comet early moonless June and July before the hit, so I'll see the difference after the impact.

Did someone say this was a binocular object? Hummm. So I break out the really high end scope stuff - my trusty Astroscan :rolleyes:
I should be able to see a mag 9 object but no luck so far. I think I have a light issue. Maybe I'll shoot out the neighbor's light. (This is the one with the 'free-range' chickens anyway, our relationship is already zero).

Jupiter is very pretty as always but I can't find the comet yet. Froze my butt off in the cold wind too. I think I need to get out west of town for a lower horizon. Virgo is pretty high but the sky is still a bit light even after 9pm.

The Milky Way is rising summer is definitely on the way. Eat your heart out city people... :p

[Alkatran]

Who wants to bet that any and all bad things happening after the strike are blamed on it?

Who wants to bet on whether or not the global consciousness project will notice a difference?

Who wants to bet on whether or not nothing happens except a comet getting hit?

[Soapy Sam]

Kopji- My first view of Hale-Bopp was from the Algerian Sahara.
About 8 deg above the (very dark) horizon.
It was a bit like M31- I didn't see it so much as know something was there. A very faint impression of a light source.
Blink and it's gone.

I imagine all comets are the same at distance.

[Kopji]

Originally posted by Soapy Sam
Kopji- My first view of Hale-Bopp was from the Algerian Sahara.
About 8 deg above the (very dark) horizon.
It was a bit like M31- I didn't see it so much as know something was there. A very faint impression of a light source.
Blink and it's gone.

I imagine all comets are the same at distance.

Dancing barefoot with Berber women on an Algerian beach was one of my wish list "to-do's" for a long time. -sigh-

Sounds great tho. Call me weird but I love the desert.

Hyakutake and Hale-Bopp in the 90's were very memorable.

Was going on a star walk with some astronomers from Lowell this evening but of course it's raining today...