9:55 AM — Deep Impact's done it! NASA's Deep Impact probe has collided with comet Tempel 1 right on time. Everyone was watching, even Hubble. What most civilians don't realize though, is that it's the spectral data (that is, the precise colors) that will give us the most information. They've confirmed the presence of the molecule CN, and are currently working in determining the isotopes present, which can tell us about the comet's age and more detailed origins.  ¶ permalink | 0 musings