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Deep Impact Mission Reveals Comet Ice

Posted by Zonk on from the good-job-tiny-space-probe dept.

Ant writes "New Scientist reports water ice is present on the surface of Comet Tempel 1." From the article: "The finding was made via observations from NASA's Deep Impact mission. This is the first direct detection of exposed water ice on a comet. The mission's science team says the water ice is present in surprisingly small amounts, covering less than 1% of Comet Tempel 1's surface. The finding suggests the comet's surrounding cloud of gas and dust may largely be fed by underlying ices, rather than by gas streaming off its surface."

4 of 54 comments (clear)

  1. What color is the comet? by Quaoar · · Score: 3, Funny

    Cause if it's yellow, then whoever made it didn't use snow...

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    I'll form my OWN solar system! With blackjack! And hookers!
  2. Cool! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Funny

    We'll melt the ice, bottle it and make millons$$$$$$

  3. Re:Fascinating, Jim by 7macaw · · Score: 3, Funny

    >the rover/lander will watch on the surface. One important thing to plan: make sure the probe doesn't hit the lander! On the other hand, if it does, you'll get the eternal glory of staging the first extra-terrestrial traffic accident! ;)

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    Grundes!
  4. Final step by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    12. Profit!