Posted on 07/01/2005 7:10:20 AM PDT by Zuben Elgenubi
It Takes a Cosmic Village to View a Comet<
06.29.05
Like people gazing skyward to watch Independence Day fireworks, an international array of telescopes will train expert eyes on a dramatic encounter between NASA's Deep Impact spacecraft and a passing comet. The explosive event will happen 133.6 million kilometers (83 million miles) from Earth in the early hours of July 4 Eastern Daylight Time (late July 3 Pacific Daylight Time). Telescopes on the ground and others orbiting in space will document the mission's crucial moments using different wavelengths of light. ![]() Image right: Artist's concept showing Deep Impact just before impact with comet Tempel 1. Image credit: Maas Digital. Image left: Artist's concept of Spitzer Space Telescope. Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech.
Image right: Gemini North Observatory atop Mauna Kea in Hawaii. Image credit: Gemini North Observatory.
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Also check Deep Impact Homepage and check out "Helpful links". There are some good animations there.
It looks like the impact site will be viewable at impact time only on the West Coast.
WAAAAAAH!
Here's a hemispherical map and your location looks pretty close. Of course, poor visibility towards the horizon where you're at.
Comet impact Ping (this weekend)
Thanks for the ping
I am going to be at a dark site, in the Ocala National Forest that night, however, Spica sets at about 0140 EDT 4 July, and observation is going to be right ON the horizon. It will be due west, over the dark part of the forest.
I won't be able to see it except on TV. I will bring a scope or two out though.
More fireworks!
LVM
There will be a live thread on Sunday. Keep an eye out for it.
Thanks for the ping!
It will be setting as the event happens where I will be. I look forward to photos!
Uh huh.... sure.
Until Marvin gets REALLY ticked about his vacation cottage being obliterated and comes a'hunting!
LOL, vacation cottage indeed. Good one.
Scientists have discovered that comets are natural sources of antimatter. The announcement was made at April 2002 joint meeting of American Physical Society and American Astronomical Society. ... On July 4, 2005, NASA plans to collide a 350 kilogram spacecraft into the antimatter Comet Tempel 1. The spacecraft's impact with the comet will result in a 15,000 Megatons explosion that will fracture the 125 billion metric ton comet into millions of fragments. The antimatter fragments will disperse into solar orbit and periodically collide with earth for years to come. The antimatter collisions with earth will produce tremendous explosions (equivalent to millions of Megatons of TNT), and will destroy life as we know it. Armageddon will have come. NASA should notify the public of their plans to avoid colliding the spacecraft with the Comet Tempel 1. NASA should also inform the public about the opportunities to use antimatter to benefit humanity and turn the Star Trek Dream into Reality.
(it's amazing what valuable information is on the net, yet nobody really believes it...)
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It's Tra-la-la-BOOM-dee-yea Time, USA
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