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First Results From Deep Impact Mission
jdoire wrote to mention a Physicsweb piece revealing some of the first bits of data from the Deep Impact mission. From the article: "Based on data from the flyby spacecraft and the impactor, Michael O'Hearn of the University of Maryland and colleagues say that Tempel 1 belongs to the Jupiter family of comets, although its overall shape and surface features are quite different from the nuclei of the two other comets that have been studied in detail -- Wild 2 and Borelly. They also report that Tempel 1 consists largely of extremely fine particles that seem to be very loosely bound together: in other words, the comet is more like a pile of powder than a solid rock." Looks like the Electric Universe folks were a bit off.
Well dang, if that's all it is, c'mon in for a landing buddy. Man, we had you comets all wrong.
Won't be a planet killer...more like a planet tickler...cute little fella.
There's nothing Intelligent about Intelligent Design.
The comet becomes terribly afraid whenever anything is about to hit it. This natural "tensing up," it what allows us to study it effectively.
Also, moving at many thousands of kilometers per second means that you can impact almost anything and cause an explosion. If the probe gently touched down, it might well have settled into the comet very ently.
10101110
I once saw a documentary about a comet that was made completely from garbage. It was nearly impossible to destroy because it was such a loose collection of items. This comet seems very similar.
Ninjas don't carry tic tacs
How does it feel to be potential parents to an alien species?
Like a Scientologist?
(rimshot!)
"Rocky Rococo, at your cervix!"
it might well have settled into the comet very ently.
Harrrooomm! Harruummmmm! My, but you are a hasty comet. Very hasty, indeed. Harrooooooomm!
I watched C-beams glitter in the dark near the Tannhauser gate.