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[MicroNova]

Will Sparks Fly?

I'm not sure about how accurate this web site is, but
could it be that NASA will destroy or at least fracture a
Comet? I can hear the play by play now...with the
score tied in the bottom of the Ninth...
Here's the pitch!!!!!.....

You call the Game!

www.nature.com/news/2005/050103/full/050103-9.html

Could it be the the U.S. governement has bigger fish to fry?

That is to say that this is just a scrimmage game? The real target is a few years off? If it snows on the 4th of July, you'll know why!

MicroNova ;D

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

You know...I have some doubts about this mission.

It would be great to know what's actually inside a comet/asteroid, but I think blowing a hole in one is quite dangerous. Will the debris from the impact cause a situation dangerous to earth? It's gonna be a trash can sized copper bullet, no warhead, just the kinetic energy doing the damage...but it's unsettling. Where will it be in relation to Earth?

We won't be able to view the impact here in the states, but I understand that live feeds are in the making.

And like you say Nova, could be a practice mission for the big one coming our way.

[stargazer]

Joe we can see the impact from the states. It all depands on where you live if you will see it or not. Also what size your scope is. Im hoping to be in dark skies for it and attempt to see it.

[stargazer]

I guess I should have also said that the Comet we are going to smash into wont have any effect on Earth what so ever.Thats why it was picked. NASA has also stated that if it cant get this mission off the ground by the 17th it will pick another Comet to hit. They dont want to hit one cose enough to endager Earth in any way. Some where her I have the time it will smash. I will post it when Ifind it again.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Considering NASA's present level of incompetence, (remember the metric/standard miscommunication?), I really don't have the faith and confidence in the agency that in once commanded. Actions millions of miles away, have dire consequences later on as each piece of debris now becomes it's own missle and defined orbit.

Blowing up a space rock takes us out of the passive scientist and puts us on the route of an aggresive explorer...which has it's good and bad points.

I had made mention some time ago here that I fear for the rings of Saturn, as when humans get out there, the temptation to "touch" the rings will disrupt them. Soon after that, there will be space jet-skiers skimming the rings as a holiday space package. Humans are great for destroying environments.

I will certainly be quite interested in the results, but I just don't know.

[MicroNova]

Now interestingly enough there is an asteroid mentioned that is in the same photograph as comet Tuttle 1.(see the web site below...2nd photo and the text mentions ... the asteroid is...) You also know that the military is working full force to strike an incoming ballistic missle. Add two and two together and you get an interesting concept. Maybe the Military is involved in the flight with comet Tuttle as the cover story and the real target it the pesky little asteroid mentioned in the second photo from this web site.

www.astro.virginia.edu/~kx8u/Fan/galery.html



By the way I am just having fun, but I also enjoy using my imagination. From my study of ancient star records recorded on stone and in caves, I have a very clear picture of a comet that exploded in the big dipper. It could only be a polar orbit that would do such a thing. My conclusion at the time was that Mr. Tuttle 1 was responsible. Just below the cup of the Big Dipper is a very humble Lion called Leo. This is where my indian stones say Boom! Vela! Leonids!

You can check your own star charts and remember that if the Big Dipper is a cup with a few drops dripping from it, the drops will fall on the Lion's Head.

The comet travels south from the Big Dipper to Leo. If you think about Tuttle 1 as the source of the Leonids then it makes sense that there was a cosmic collision at one point in time and the Leonids are still bits of debris. Ergo a simple little asteroid hiding behind the big fluffy comet could mean trouble.

Let's hope it's not ... Swing and a Miss Strike Three!

The orbit indicates it was probably an earth smasher before.

images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://cse.ssl.berkeley.edu/SegwayEd/lessons/cometstale/images/tuttle.gif&imgrefurl=http://cse.ssl.berkeley.edu/SegwayEd/lessons/CometsTale/backgroundII.html&h=226&w=457&sz=6&tbnid=mG935ZEXWGwJ:&tbnh=61&tbnw=123&start=1&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dcomet%2Btuttle%2B1%2Borbit%2B%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26safe%3Doff%26sa%3DN

Or at least a Leo Crasher! (see Leonids below)

images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.ncsm.city.nagoya.jp/astro/old/leoCG/LeoCG02_1.gif&imgrefurl=http://www.ncsm.city.nagoya.jp/astro/old/leoCG/&h=120&w=160&sz=5&tbnid=NvonP_My3YkJ:&tbnh=69&tbnw=92&start=2&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dcomet%2Btuttle%2B1%2Borbit%2B%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26safe%3Doff%26sa%3DN

[MicroNova]

:DShe's Up!!!!!
spaceflightnow.com/delta/d311/

Don't you mess with Mother Nature!!!!!
The Comet Smasher called the Deep Space Probe, has a hiccup... check your thermostat Martha!

It is in safe mode now after launch. That means it has an anomoly.
Is it a possible sign to leave Mother Nature alone?

www.space.com/missionlaunches/delta2_dpimpact_050112.html

According to the link below the Comet Smasher is O.K.
www.space.com/missionlaunches/delta2_launch_050112.html

The full mission is described below:
www.space.com/scienceastronomy/scitues_deepimpact_050111.html

I guess I'll just wait for the 4th of July in my Lounge chair..... waiting for a few ice cubes to drop into my Margarita glass!

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

In homage to Deep Impact, I shall blow up a rock on the 4th...and smile.

As the time gets closer, I'm sure we will get the time schedules for the event. And the live tv/web feeds.

You think NASA will get it right?....I will lay odds nay.

[Al Degutis]

Chicago said:

In homage to Deep Impact, I shall blow up a rock on the 4th...and smile.

I couldn't wait. After all it requires snow to make a dirty snowball, right? So while shoveling my driveway (again) I scooped up some snow/dirt/grass from where the driveway meets the grass and pulverized it. Very impressive. ;D

I tried to get my wife to video tape a second "impact" but there was no coaxing her out into the cold.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

1 - Hey, is anyone else on this particular board getting an usually wide display? I have to scroll to the extreme right to read all the posted content.

2 - Isn't the analogy of the "Dirty Snowball dead? From what we know about comets, arn't they just rocks ..with comet stuff inside leaking out? The Giotto mission showed us that, and Halley's comet was shown with darker than charcoal surface and jets shooting out from the interior.

3 - Al, I'm with you. I'm gonna gather me a bunch of genuine Chicago snow...and if Former NASA Chief administrator O'keefe happens to walk by...well, I ain't responsible for what I may do.

[MicroNova]

Hi Joe and Friends!
I was able to find a good link that describes the orbital data for Comet Tuttle. Here's the orbital data:

The Leonid meteors are caused particles ejected from Comet 55P/Tempel-Tuttle when it passes its perihelion.

The Comet has the following orbital parameters according to S. Nakano (Minor Planet Circ. 31070):
T = 1998 February 28.0982 TT
q = 0.976577 au
a = 10.337486 au
e = 0.905531
i = 162.4860°
Omega = 235.2583°
omega = 172.4988°
Epoch : 1998 March 8.0 TT


Is it possible that there were just too many disappointed star gazers who went outside to see the Leonids and didn't see any? (impatient? cold?)

Perhaps that's why NASA is sending the Ice Crusher,
I mean Comet Smasher,
I shink I'm shmashed....
Must be the Margaritas!

The link is here:
images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.imo.net/leo99/leo99orb1.gif&imgrefurl=http://www.imo.net/leo99/leo99leo.html&h=439&w=668&sz=24&tbnid=YyQuuGYZ33cJ:&tbnh=89&tbnw=135&start=16&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dcomet%2Btuttle%2B1%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26safe%3Doff%26sa%3DN