WP/AP: Comet's Formation Appears Gradual:Collision Provides Data on Origin

[DeepModem Mom]

Comet's Formation Appears Gradual
Collision Provides Data on Its Origin
Associated Press
Sunday, July 10, 2005; Page A11


LOS ANGELES -- The plume of debris that spilled from a comet after it collided with a space probe is as fine as talcum powder, suggesting the comet formed gradually, scientists said.

Scientists continue to study data gathered when a copper probe from NASA's Deep Impact spacecraft blasted a crater in comet Tempel 1 on July 4 to expose its primordial core.

Comets are believed to be the frozen leftover building blocks of the solar system, formed when a huge cloud of gas and dust collapsed about 4.5 billion years ago. Studying them could provide clues to the birth of the solar system.

Soon after the 820-pound probe hit Tempel 1, scientists detected evidence of water, carbon dioxide and organic substances spewing from the comet. The high-speed collision produced two flashes of light and hurled a plume of fine, powdery dust from the comet thousands of miles into space....

***

Scientists are waiting for the dust from the larger-than-expected debris cloud to settle so they can get their first glimpse at the inside of the comet and determine the size and depth of the crater. They said the crater was larger than a house and possibly as big as a football stadium....


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/07/09/AR2005070901070.html

[Endangered Specie]

1. cool beans

:)

[whitebear]

2. but the world was only made in 6 days!

:sarcasm:

[damntexdem]

4. Yeah, but the hole in the comet was made ...

in less than 6 seconds.

[DeepModem Mom]

6. Hi, whitebear -- welcome to DU!

[WhiteTara]

7. yeah and it was only 2000 years ago

:sarcasm:

[damntexdem]

3. But is that an NFL stadium or a high-school stadium.

And will the players really agree to play there? ;-)

[Pithy Cherub]

5. So, if the comet is carrying the materials for life

then perhaps we are not alone? :hi:

A gradual building of the comet, hmmmmm, love science.

[stickdog]

8. It's part of previously destructively impacted/broken up planet.

It's contaminated with microbes -- probably like the kind they have in Yellowstone Park.

That's how microbial life spreads itself through the galaxy.

http://www.luzenac.com/pr1.htm

Luzenac's Yellowstone Talc Mine has been in operation since 1950 and is renowned for the high quality and purity of its talc

[whitebear]

9. Republicans planned 9/11

hahahahahahahahahahahahahah:think: