Successful launch of Deep Impact

  • Thread starter Thread starter Phobos
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Impact Launch
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the launch of the Deep Impact mission, which aims to collide an impactor with comet Tempel 1 on July 4. Participants share updates, links to articles, and inquire about the visibility of the impact from Earth.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Technical explanation, Meta-discussion

Main Points Raised

  • Participants note the successful launch of Deep Impact at 1:47 pm and its scheduled impact on comet Tempel 1.
  • Links to various articles and resources about the mission are shared, including pre-launch coverage and mission details from JPL.
  • There is a question regarding the visibility of the flash of light from the impact from Earth, with some participants suggesting it might be visible with a telescope.
  • One participant mentions that there will be a broadcast of the impact, including photo and video coverage.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the details of the launch and the mission's goals, but there is uncertainty regarding the visibility of the impact flash from Earth.

Contextual Notes

Some assumptions about the visibility of the impact flash depend on the type of telescope used and the conditions at the time of the impact.

Who May Find This Useful

Readers interested in space missions, comet studies, and astronomical observations may find this discussion relevant.

Phobos
Staff Emeritus
Science Advisor
Gold Member
Messages
1,958
Reaction score
7
Launched today at 1:47 pm.
Impactor will hit comet Tempel 1 on July 4.

Love the real-time blog for the launch...
http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/delta2_launch_050112.html
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Astronomy news on Phys.org
Phobos, would you happen to know if the flash of light from the impact will be visible from earth?
 
B. Elliott said:
Phobos, would you happen to know if the flash of light from the impact will be visible from earth?

Possibly with a telescope you can see it!
 
Welcome to Physics Forums, B. Elliott!
You would need access to a serious telescope.
http://deepimpact.jpl.nasa.gov/science/observations.html
But they plan to broadcast some kind of photo/video on TV & the internet.
 
Last edited by a moderator:

Similar threads

Graduate NASA's DART spaceship has hit the Dimorphos asteroid: what now?
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
4K
Feasibility of nuclear detonation for deep planetary science on Mars
  • · Replies 38 ·
2
Replies
38
Views
8K
High School Deep Impact: NASA's Mission to Smash a Comet on the Fourth of July
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
4K
Reminder about Deep Impact on night of July 3
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
3K
SpaceX Crew Dragon Demo-2: Launch success
  • · Replies 24 ·
Replies
24
Views
6K
New Gorgeous Video from Deep Impact
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
3K
Comet Hartley 2 Flyby: Incredible Images from NASA's Deep Impact Probe
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
3K
Projectile Problem: Find y, vy0, vy Impact, & Velocity Mag/Dir
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
Change in Momentum of probe Problem
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
16K
Further Geological Effects of Chicxulub Impact Found
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K