Sunday, December 12, 2010

Astronomy experts answer depth impact intended to explore the origins of the solar system

Why does not impact other celestial bodies

According to NASA, this time for "deep impact", mainly in order to study the Comet in most parts of the "heavy" — Comet nucleus of internal material composition, thereby helping people understand the solar system began to form in material form.

So, why Comet nucleus research to explore the solar system's early material form? Professor Zhao explains that: "under the current widely accepted the origin of the solar system, ' said ' nebulae solar system all objects have the same source, that is, the raw solar nebula. About 50 million years ago, the Nebula in gravitation of shrinkage, forming a Nebula, and from there was born the Sun, planets, comets, and so on many celestial bodies. ”

50 million years have passed, many celestial bodies within the solar system materials constitute the great changes, relatively speaking, the Comet is an exception.

"Most comets are along some very flat oval orbit around the Sun, its most of the time is spent away from the Sun, where the temperature is very low, the material's original shape can be permanently saved. Therefore, the Comet is the study of the solar system's original material form a natural tool, "Zhao says.

Although the "frozen" Comet for original material form, but in the long time travel, is inevitably subject to a variety of interplanetary substances pollution, pollution from these substances will, therefore, the surface layer of Comet nuclei, Comet nucleus of surface materials do not represent the original material in the solar system.

Professor Zhao, said: "only the Comet deep inside substances retained the original form in the early solar system, and the original composition, if you want to correctly understand the solar system's initial physical form, you have to search the depths of Comet nuclei. So, NASA to hit the ' depth '. ”

Study with the "life" there is a relationship?

Professor Zhao said the addition of the initial material form of the solar system, "deep impact" also may have on the study of the origin of life on Earth has a certain scientific significance.

Professor Zhao said, for the origin of life this important basic questions that people have two views. One is that originated in the Earth's own "local"; the other is from extraterrestrial "Introduction" and "exogenous".

"Exogenous" that, although the lack of early Earth compounds forming life, forming life required many complex elements already present in interstellar or interplanetary space. These complex molecules attached to the asteroids, comets, meteorites, and other small objects, but these small objects or their fragments, particles will often "invasion" of the Earth, thus contributing to the formation of the original Earth brings to life the organic compounds.

If you hit the "depth" can ran out of some organic compounds that may be the origin of life "exogenous" provides some evidence that may help us close to the truth about the origin of life.

Way to "crash" or "landing"

As regards impact and landing two of the major nuclear material composition, Professor Zhao, if you do not consider the requirements of the aerospace technology, both have their advantages and disadvantages.

Impinging in Comet nucleus on a dozen of the pit in order to be able to study the major nuclear material deeper. Login to get to the major nuclear substances samples analysis is more accurate, but because of the current technology has to be on the Comet nucleus, therefore, depth drilling landing extraction analysis samples may only be extended nuclear substances, and the surface of the solar system initial material form some gaps.

"Due to impact and landing on each have strengths, human research on both of these methods are called by the implementation. Impact at present is the NASA deep impact ' of the ' test, landing is organized by the European Space Agency. 2 March 2004, the European Space Agency launched the ' Rosetta ' Comet probe, it will arrive in 2014 67P/C-G Comet nearby, close to do inspection and sampling material samples, "Zhao says.

Why don't hit "object death Comet"

Reportedly, the "deep impact" is not a NASA's first hit the Comet program, in 1996, they had planned on a "dead Comet" similar impact test, but for technical reasons, the programme was not approved, then the plan after modification into today's "deep impact".

Professor Zhao said NASA Comet program a decade ago was rejected, and the selected object is "dead Comet". NASA Comet so-called "dead" might refer to those who may have consumed finished volatile matter, thereby losing the coma of Comet.

Comet comet head and generally consists of Comet Tail composed of two parts, the comet head and Comet nucleus and coma. Comet nucleus diameter is small, only a few hundred meters to more than 100 kilometres, but the vast majority of centralizing the comet. Comet's volume varies with the distance of Comet and the Sun changes, diameter usually ranging from tens of kilometers, reached a million kilometres, than the Sun.

Therefore, if you are not a coma of Comet's "death" then it will be difficult to make accurate observations, making it difficult to describe the "dead Comet" accurate running track. In this way, the impact of course it will be difficult to achieve.

Zhao also said, along with the volatile substances continue to consume, Comet nucleus of original material form may also be affected, in respect of the initial material composition of the solar system, comets "death" as "Comet" valuable alive.

Temple 1, why is the "chosen"

For this "space" hit "victim" Temple No.1, Professor Zhao said, on the head, it's not a small Comet. It's the major nuclear diameter of 6 km, density close to water, the District of hundreds of kilograms of striking spaces on it does not impact.

Select Temple No.1 for impact test, and it's regression cycle. The comet's return every 5 years, so at a time, select the test time for scientists.

Misunderstandings is to prevent "the Comet hit Earth"?

For Department

Score media coverage of "deep impact" should contribute to the human future disaster Earth Comet hit, Professor Zhao consistent with NASA's point of view: the "shelling Comet" and the "world of big collision" there is no direct contact.

"Hard to say ' deep impact ' to avoid the Comet hit Earth of any assistance that may be the ' deep impact ', so close to the Comet and the Comet nucleus implementation impact on human beings have the capacity to Comet orbit for precise description and prediction, which can help humanity advance on future possible Comet collision with Earth disaster alert issued accurate," Zhao says.

"In fact, this kind of predict Comet orbit capacity we already have. 1985 to 1986, during the return to Earth Comet Halley, including Shanghai Astronomical Observatory, global research institutions are tracking observation. United States, the former Soviet Union, Japan and the European Space Agency has launched six detector to close the field probe. So, as long as they do a good observation, mankind would be more accurate in predicting a comet's orbit. ”

For the Comet would pose a threat to Earth, Professor Zhao replied: "in fact, as long as they can lead very long to accurately predict Comet orbit, man should have a way to change its orbit, so that the unexpected with Earth. ”

"We may be able to detonate near the Comet a powerful hydrogen bombs, slightly change the forward path; maybe you can launch a huge ' solar cooker ' to its nearby, clustered Sun accelerated Comet nucleus ice substance of volatile speed, thus changing the Comet nucleus quality to achieve its purpose of running track; we can also place a similar recent launch failed ' solar sails" or something plugged into a comet nucleus, pressure by the Sun changes its operating speed and Comet detour. ”

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