[AZ-Observing] Re: Deep Impact

My own thought on this is that any increase in brightness will be the 
result of reflected sunlight from ejecta. The impactor will be traveling 
at 6.3 mi/sec. If it is assumed the ejecta will travel equally as fast 
(for every action there is an opposite and equal reaction), then in one 
minute the ejecta will have traveled 378 miles. In 30 minutes, still 
above the horizon, it will have traveled 11,340 miles. I believe Earth 
is about 83,000,000 miles from the comet. The 11,340 miles substends a 
angle of about 0.47 arc minutes. It would seem this should be able to be 
visually seen, and if not that, the increase in brightness from this 
area should be able to be seen photometrically for sure. Just my own 
guesses.
Stan

ketelsen@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx wrote:

>Jeff-
>Do you have an estimate of how fast it may/will brighten?  It certainly
>won't stay above our horizon for very long...  Just wondering if an
>increase in brightness will take minutes or hours.
>
>-Dean
>--
>See message header for info on list archives or unsubscribing, and please 
>send personal replies to the author, not the list.
>
>
>
>  
>

--
See message header for info on list archives or unsubscribing, and please 
send personal replies to the author, not the list.

Other related posts: