The show, broadcast live around the world, has been described by experts as an "historic event", whereas "no probe had never before approached so much to a comet nucleus." The 'face to face' occurred at about 23 million kilometers from Earth and the satellite.
From the first image, however, the atrophy of the American Space Agency have indicated that "the comet appears to be slightly smaller than we thought. You may have a mass of 280 million tonnes and turn on itself in 18 hours," explains the NASA. The body would consist of "a mixture of silicate dust and water ice", although the possibility has emerged that in Hartley 2 is also "carbon and nitrogen."
"We're learning a lot because this nucleus appears to be quite different from the other four we already know," said a Nasa Tv Mike A'Hearn, University of Maryland, who is leading this part of the project.
No regrets, therefore, by the U.S. government, which once gave the green light to the extension of the Deep Impact mission, which started in 2005, for a total cost of $ 42 million. Why study comets is of "paramount importance", since these are thought to have been the formation of the solar system 4.5 billion years ago.
The first 'cover' the Conquered Halley's Comet in 1986, with a space mission with a strong Italian contribution, Which At The Time Was amazed by the precision of the rendezvous and images sent to Earth. Borrelly, Wild 2 and Tempel 1, However, the other three are photographed Comets respectively in 2001, 2004 and 2005.
Today, shortly after 16 o'clock, When Were The First Images Displayed on screen! One hour after overflights by the Deep Impact spacecraft The comet-star, Who Remains visible in the night sky In The Constellation of Gemini and the Unicorn. The ship WAS photographed historical With camera in medium resolution, 700 miles away. Currently, The Comet 103P/Hartley 2 Is Located 37 million miles from Earth.
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