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Deep Impact Catches First Glimpse of Target Comet
smooth wombat writes "The BBC has a story, with pics and diagrams, showing the first image of comet Temple Tuttle 1 taken by the Deep Impact spacecraft. (Secondary link from Wired News) The Deep Impact spacecraft is to rendezvous with the comet on July 4th and impact the comet in an attempt to learn more about how comets are formed and possibly more insight into how the solar system was formed. A camera on the impactor will allow scientists to examine the surface of Tempel 1 in greater detail than ever before. Depending on how much dust hits the camera's lens, scientists should be able to see photos up until a second before impact. If that's the case, the photos will reveal objects as small as 8 inches in width. The photos will immediately be relayed to the main Deep Impact spacecraft and then down to Earth."
I imagine if there is, they will have a similar look on their faces as a soccer player right before he takes a ball to the face. But I digress... fifty bucks says now that NASA wants to crash, they wont.
*ducks*
from the now-put-ben-affleck-into-the-torpedo-tube dept.
Well I guess that's better than the:
from the now-put-the-torpedo-tube-into-ben-affleck dept.
This probe is going to do a far better job than the "Armageddon" probe they're sending up next year.
Kid: "Hmmm, that slug looks interesting. I think I'll poke it with this stick."
Scientist: "Hmmm, that comet looks interesting. I think I'll run into it with this camera."
I guess scientists are big kids with better sticks.
Give me but one firm spot on which to stand, and I will move the earth.
- Archimedes
" The last photo will show an alien looking upwards with its life flashing before its eyes" ...wondering if the probe will be friends with it.
The problem I have with the name of the Movie is the same one I have with the mission: it really sounds like a name that belongs on one of those pornos that rips off the basic premise of a movie, but somehow always ends up involving a delivery guy showing up to the wrong house....
Closer examination the surface revealed what looks to be a 1950s British police box, a pompous man wearing a flamboyant scarf and a dimwitted sidekick getting vaporized.