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."

Comments

A note about the name

[FleaPlus]

Because there's inevitably comments about the mission's name (which is the same as that of a Hollywood movie) whenever this is on slashdot, I figured I'd try to nip it in the bud. From this article:

"The scientists came up with the Deep Impact name independently of the movie studio, around the same time, neither knowing the other was choosing it, even though some members of NASA's Deep Impact team were consultants on the picture."

For those seeking more info, here's the Wikipedia article (on the mission, not the movie).

Re:A note about the name

[ajs]

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....

Re:A note about the name

[cyclone96]

While I do not know for certain in this case (I do not work on Deep Impact), it certainly would not be out of character for NASA engineers to try to make this occur on July 4.

I work on the Shuttle and Station programs. Occasionally, we need to dump water overboard for one reason or another. It's spectacular to see from the ground, and while there are some constraints as to when it needs to occur often times we simply pick an arbitrary time period within a window to actually execute the dump.

You can be darn sure that, given the choice, we schedule it to occur over the continental United States with the proper lighting to see it for ourselves and watch the news pick it up! If the trajectory doesn't work out, we try to give Europe a show. It's not someone at Headquarters directing us to do it that way because it would be good PR, just a bunch of engineers that have found an interesting problem to work on.

It's a beautiful thing to see, might as well let the public enjoy it.

Deep Impact?

[Anonymous Coward]

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.

Personally I think...

[vudufixit]

This probe is going to do a far better job than the "Armageddon" probe they're sending up next year.

Poke Poke

[ghoda_x]

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.

Re:Photo details

[khujifig]

" 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.

Re:Only Cameras?

[Shag]

Precisely! To be more specific, this batch of ground-based telescopes, coordinated by this member of NASA's science team for the mission. :)

Alas, I think someone else gets to operate that night on the one I run, so I guess I'll just go hang out and watch.