NASA 'Aims' to Kamikaze Comet

The Washington Post recently reported that NASA will be launching the two-part space craft "Deep Impact" tomorrow. The whole idea of the project is to take a $330 million dollar vehicle and ram it straight into the comet Tempel 1 so we can study the nucleus of the comet. The 22,000 MPH impact is expected to have the force of 4 tons of TNT which should result in a hole approximately 80 feet deep and 300 feet wide crater.

The impact is scheduled to take place on the 4th of July, appropriately enough.

Just as important is the view from Earth. Astronomical spacecraft such as the Hubble, Chandra and Spitzer telescopes, will observe the results from the impact, as will dozens of telescopes from the Earth's surface.
The collision will happen, appropriately enough, on the Fourth of July.
"We expect to provide some great fireworks for all our observatories," said NASA program manager Rick Grammier.
The encounter only will be visible above the horizon in the west and over the Pacific — from New Zealand to Arizona. Scientists expect the results to be spectacular, lasting for days so observers around the world can participate, including amateur astronomers.

For any readers that may be in the New Zealand to Arizona area, please email me any pictures that you take of the event.

It's a bird, it's a plane, no it's,
Crispy