AAQ Visual Observing Section
Deep Impact - 4 July 2005Comet 9P/Tempel 1 is due to be impacted by a projectile launched from NASA’s “Deep Impact” spacecraft at around 4.00pm AEST on 4 July. Although we won’t have dark skies at the time of the impact we will be able to observe it within several hours after impact (astronomical twilight ends at 6:30pm AEST). Some predictions estimate the comet may brighten from approximately magnitude 10 before the impact to 6th magnitude after impact. When observing the comet take note of any change in brightness or structure of the coma or tail. We recommend you observe the comet before impact (the Deep Sky Observing night at Mt Kent Observatory on the 2 July provides a good opportunity for this) and up to a week after impact. Finder charts to help you observe the comet and the aftermath of the impact are provided below. Charts have been provided below for the date of impact (Monday 4 July 2005) and for the Deep Sky Observing night on Saturday 2 July. Refer to the NASA Deep Impact website and the Australian Sky & Telescope June 2005 magazine for more information on this exciting mission.
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