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Deep Impact space collision reveals comets to be fluffy balls of powder
The Guardian ^
| 9/7/2005
| Ian Sample, science correspondent
Posted on 09/06/2005 11:45:24 PM PDT by Swordmaker
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Dirty Snowball OUT
Fluffy Ball of Powder IN
Out is the long-held view of hardened, dirty snowballs hurtling through space. In is the comet as a fluffy ball of powder, blowing puffs of dust whenever sunlight falls on it.
And what do the astronomers postulate causes the sunlight initiated "puffs of dust," sunlight allergic Magic Dragons???
To: Swordmaker
2
posted on
09/06/2005 11:47:28 PM PDT
by
Swordmaker
(Beware of Geeks bearing GIFs.)
To: Swordmaker
Among the material were a host of organic molecules.
Amino acids, nucleotides, methane, barbeque sauce...its all from outer space.
3
posted on
09/06/2005 11:52:57 PM PDT
by
carumba
To: carumba
"Amino acids, nucleotides, methane, barbeque sauce...its all from outer space."
Just imagine if the impacted comet started spilling cheeses, hams and sausages.
4
posted on
09/06/2005 11:56:55 PM PDT
by
GSlob
To: GSlob
Red Neck father: Son study hard and you can blow up comets and asteroids.
Son: Really?
Father: Just like fishin' in the swamp only bigger.
5
posted on
09/07/2005 12:00:11 AM PDT
by
carumba
To: carumba
Life creators, not planet killers?
6
posted on
09/07/2005 12:07:30 AM PDT
by
Birdsbane
(If You Are Employed By A Liberal Democrat...Quit!)
To: Swordmaker
And what do the astronomers postulate causes the sunlight initiated "puffs of dust," sunlight allergic Magic Dragons???
Simple.... comets are alive; composed of billions of tiny creatures that lay dormant until warmed by the suns rays. Then they awaken and begin to eat each other. Now the only question is, "are these puffs burps or farts".
Comets should be placed on the endangered species list NOW. NASA should be forbidden to continue murdering these helpless creatures. And if a collection of these wonderful creatures want to visit our planet one day, no attempt should be made to stop them. Fluff has a right to live too!
7
posted on
09/07/2005 12:07:31 AM PDT
by
derllak
To: Swordmaker
Images of the comet before impact showed it released bursts of gasGood thing this wasn't in California. It would have required a license for releasing gas.
8
posted on
09/07/2005 12:27:52 AM PDT
by
taxesareforever
(Government is running amuck)
To: Swordmaker
If comets are so loose why would we need to divert one from a collision course with Earth?(USA #1 !!)
9
posted on
09/07/2005 12:29:42 AM PDT
by
I see my hands
(Soon evacuees will have absolute moral authority and entitlement.)
To: Swordmaker
"And what do the astronomers postulate causes the sunlight initiated "puffs of dust," sunlight allergic Magic Dragons???"
I believe they are obliquely referring to radiation pressure from photons, but I am not a physicist.
To: carumba
Amino acids, nucleotides, methane, barbeque sauce What about the very stuff of life?
PIZZA!
To: I see my hands
If comets are so loose why would we need to divert one from a collision course with Earth?
Are we talking about this particular comet or all comets ?
12
posted on
09/07/2005 1:44:22 AM PDT
by
CheezyChesster
(Not all that you see is fluff and puff !)
To: I see my hands
If comets are so loose why would we need to divert one from a collision course with Earth?Asteroids and meteroids are a different breed.
13
posted on
09/07/2005 2:05:00 AM PDT
by
BigSkyFreeper
(Liberalism is a form of insanity)
To: benjaminjjones
Reminds me of the Seinfeld episode where Kramer feed the horse some canned ravioli. Whew!
14
posted on
09/07/2005 2:15:12 AM PDT
by
carumba
To: Swordmaker
The insight came yesterday when researchers announced the first detailed results of Deep Impact, an elaborate experiment played out in space on July 4. Over two months time and Fluffy Ball of Powder in all we get. WOW! I'm not really sold on NASA insightful analysis.
To: CheezyChesster
If comets are so loose why would we need to divert one from a collision course with Earth? If the comet's big enough, and enters earth's atmosphere at the right angle and speed, it superheats and explodes..
Think Tunguski, Siberia..
Are we talking about this particular comet or all comets ?
Depends on who you're talking to..
Some believe this evidence will hold true for all comets..
Others, that further evidence is needed before we can say this is evidence for the composition of all comets..
Until then, it is only evidence for the composition of thise "one" comet..
One other thing..
We just provided this comet with a solid copper core..
Not a very big one, and it may have vaporized, we aren't sure.. ( but even if it did, that copper is probably still part of the comet now.. )
We will have to see what effect it will have on the comet's composition..
16
posted on
09/07/2005 2:41:43 AM PDT
by
Drammach
(Freedom; not just a job, it's an adventure..)
To: Swordmaker
If 75% to 80% of the nucleus is empty, what makes up the mass?
If the comet is a loose ball of powder rather than a hard lump, what holds it together as it arcs around the sun?
Glad to hear some results are finally being published.
17
posted on
09/07/2005 2:50:27 AM PDT
by
Jack of all Trades
(Never underestimate the speed in which the thin veneer of civilization can be stripped away.)
To: Jack of all Trades
If 75% to 80% of the nucleus is empty, what makes up the mass? The other 20% to 25%..
It's a small mass, but mass, nonetheless..
If the comet is a loose ball of powder rather than a hard lump, what holds it together as it arcs around the sun?
Just a guess here, but I would say electrostatic charge..
Through ionization, the particles have "clumped" together, and are held together by "static electricity"..
Just like a dust bunny..
18
posted on
09/07/2005 3:09:09 AM PDT
by
Drammach
(Freedom; not just a job, it's an adventure..)
To: Swordmaker
And what do the astronomers postulate causes the sunlight initiated "puffs of dust," sunlight allergic Magic Dragons???
Temperature differential?
19
posted on
09/07/2005 3:13:19 AM PDT
by
R. Scott
(Humanity i love you because when you're hard up you pawn your Intelligence to buy a drink.)
To: Birdsbane
20
posted on
09/07/2005 3:13:50 AM PDT
by
R. Scott
(Humanity i love you because when you're hard up you pawn your Intelligence to buy a drink.)
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