Accuracy of the movie "Deep Impact"

[willpittenger]

I was watching <i>Deep Impact</i> last night and started wondering about its accuracy. How accurate do you think it was?<br /><br />Also, I noticed the nose of the Messiah spacecraft looked a like an STS orbiter nose. Coincidence? Or did the script have NASA cannibalizing an orbiter? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <hr style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em" />Will Pittenger<hr style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em" />Add this user box to your Wikipedia User Page to show your support for the SDC forums: <div style="margin-left:1em">{{User:Will Pittenger/User Boxes/Space.com Account}}</div> </div>

 

[MeteorWayne]

Accuracy? Not great, but not the worst, for many reasons.<br /><br /> Bad Astronomy link <br /><br />Edit to correct my disdain <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>

 

[docm]

First of all any idiot would have approached the comet from the front to minimize contact with trailing debris. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[brellis]

I'm having a funny thought. One of the methods suggested for changing the orbit of an asteroid/comet was to paint it, increasing or decreasing the amount of heat it absorbs from sunlight. Opening scene for the Hollyweird movie: Bruce Willis is a house painter with a bad hangover, broken marriage, etc., but he's the best damn painter around. He works really well with the day laborers from the street outside his local Home Depot, so when NASA hires him to save the world, he insists on using his "crew". The illegal aliens he brings along all get granted citizenship for their service.<br /><br />hmm, sounds like a winner. maybe I should keep this under my hat <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font size="2" color="#ff0000"><em><strong>I'm a recovering optimist - things could be better.</strong></em></font> </p> </div>

 

[yevaud]

(Suited Astronaut being propelled off into space, clutching a paintroller)<br /><br />"Bye, Ay-Bear." <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><em>Differential Diagnosis:  </em>"<strong><em>I am both amused and annoyed that you think I should be less stubborn than you are</em></strong>."<br /> </p> </div>

 

[MeteorWayne]

Now that's funny, and it might well work!! <img src="/images/icons/laugh.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>

 

[yevaud]

<img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /><br /><br />Sure. Change the Albedo, increase the light pressure. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><em>Differential Diagnosis:  </em>"<strong><em>I am both amused and annoyed that you think I should be less stubborn than you are</em></strong>."<br /> </p> </div>

 

[Boris_Badenov]

The comet is seen from Earth in both daylight & night time. Obviously this is an extreme case of impossible. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <font color="#993300"><span class="body"><font size="2" color="#3366ff"><div align="center">. </div><div align="center">Never roll in the mud with a pig. You'll both get dirty & the pig likes it.</div></font></span></font> </div>

 

[enigma10]

Wouldn't you have more success with a large magnifying lens to magnify the intensity of the sun and focus it to create a kind of "burn the ant" effect? <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <em>"<font color="#333399">An organism at war with itself is a doomed organism." - Carl Sagan</font></em> </div>

 

[docm]

I would think so given the likely rotation of the comet. Another approach is the gravitational tug; a large mass spacecraft on an adjusted parallel course that moves the comet incrementally.. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[brellis]

We could send a hot babe out to distract the comet. <img src="/images/icons/tongue.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font size="2" color="#ff0000"><em><strong>I'm a recovering optimist - things could be better.</strong></em></font> </p> </div>

 

[docm]

And if it's gay? <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[willpittenger]

Since when? Any bright enough object will be seen in the day. In fact, Halley's Comet was visible in the daytime centuries ago. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <hr style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em" />Will Pittenger<hr style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em" />Add this user box to your Wikipedia User Page to show your support for the SDC forums: <div style="margin-left:1em">{{User:Will Pittenger/User Boxes/Space.com Account}}</div> </div>

 

[Boris_Badenov]

The comet was approaching from the outer Solar System & people were shown in the movie observing it in daylight. If the Earth is between the object & the Sun you will not see it on the Sun side of the planet. And then to make matters worse, the comet impacted in daylight. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <font color="#993300"><span class="body"><font size="2" color="#3366ff"><div align="center">. </div><div align="center">Never roll in the mud with a pig. You'll both get dirty & the pig likes it.</div></font></span></font> </div>

 

[docm]

<font color="yellow">In fact, Halley's Comet was visible in the daytime centuries ago.</font><br /><br />In fact, Comet McNaught was visible in daylight just last winter <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /> <br /><br />Image.... <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[willpittenger]

Why didn't you upload the photo so we could see it here in the thread? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <hr style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em" />Will Pittenger<hr style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em" />Add this user box to your Wikipedia User Page to show your support for the SDC forums: <div style="margin-left:1em">{{User:Will Pittenger/User Boxes/Space.com Account}}</div> </div>

 

[weeman]

I would say the most inaccurate part about the movie is the fact there was only one astronomer who knew about it (the guy who dies in the beginning). I would think that many astronomers would find it all around the globe.<br /><br />Also, the scene with the comet entering the atmosphere before impact is also false. The comet would be traveling so fast that you wouldn't really be able to sit there and watch it fall to Earth. The comet might be traveling about 30,000-50,000mph before it even enters Earth's atmosphere. Once it entered, it would take only seconds for it to hit Earth's surface. The comet would become hotter and hotter, changing colors from blue-hot to white-hot, and eventually violet-hot. <br /><br />A comet's speed will increase as it reaches the Sun, so a comet should be traveling faster when it hits Earth than if it were to hit Jupiter or Saturn. Once near the Sun, a comet may even reach speeds of 200,000-500,000kph! <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><strong><font color="#ff0000">Techies: We do it in the dark. </font></strong></p><p><font color="#0000ff"><strong>"Put your hand on a stove for a minute and it seems like an hour. Sit with that special girl for an hour and it seems like a minute. That's relativity.</strong><strong>" -Albert Einstein </strong></font></p> </div>

 

[MeteorWayne]

Yes but a comet at earth's distance from the sun (if it's a solar system comet) can only be doing about 165,000 mph (about 73 km/sec; 40 miles/sec) at max.<br />But the minimum speed is 11 km/sec, or about 25.000 mph.<br /><br />At a low angle (which one near the minumum speed would have to have), at only the minimum 7 miles a second, it can stay in view for a while. Figure you can see a 1200 mile diameter piece of the sky above you, so a comet on a perfect path could last a while, 2 or 3 minutes.<br />That is only for a perfect grazing angle.<br /><br />For a vertical impact, it would be only a few seconds.<br />Quick toast.<br /><br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>

 

[weeman]

So then it depends on whether or not it enters vertically to Earth's surface or at an angle. Like you said, if it hits dead on (not at an angle) the speed that it already has in addition to the speed that it gains as it enters Earth's atmosphere would add up to being a very quick process; it would hit in no time at all!<br /><br />I suppose we could argue whether or not the comet hit at an angle in the movie <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><strong><font color="#ff0000">Techies: We do it in the dark. </font></strong></p><p><font color="#0000ff"><strong>"Put your hand on a stove for a minute and it seems like an hour. Sit with that special girl for an hour and it seems like a minute. That's relativity.</strong><strong>" -Albert Einstein </strong></font></p> </div>

 

[witgenestone]

I guess the ultimate question is wether Deep Impact was more accurate than Armageddon, if it is, maybe it is worth the while. Both movies are considered crap. Even if the scientific accuracy is considered OK, there is no reason to see Armageddon whatsoever. I mean, there are better acting going on in space rock documentaries.

 

[willpittenger]

Well, if we want to find movies to pick on, try <i>Supernova</i>. Even the name is a misnomer. Our Sun, as far as I know, doesn't have the mass to go supernova. Also, wouldn't our magnetic field protect us from the ejections? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <hr style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em" />Will Pittenger<hr style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em" />Add this user box to your Wikipedia User Page to show your support for the SDC forums: <div style="margin-left:1em">{{User:Will Pittenger/User Boxes/Space.com Account}}</div> </div>

 

[lampblack]

<font color="yellow">The comet is seen from Earth in both daylight & night time. Obviously this is an extreme case of impossible. </font><br /><br />well... there were reports of Halley's Comet being visible during daylight during its 1910 appearance. Rare... but not impossible. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <font color="#0000ff"><strong>Just tell the truth and let the chips fall...</strong></font> </div>

 

[lampblack]

<font color="yellow">In fact, Halley's Comet was visible in the daytime centuries ago.</font><br /><br />Sorry... I didn't see this before I posted. Halley's Comet was, in fact, visible during daylight in 1910. I believe Mark Twain even wrote about it.<br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <font color="#0000ff"><strong>Just tell the truth and let the chips fall...</strong></font> </div>

 

[lampblack]

<font color="yellow">In fact, Comet McNaught was visible in daylight just last winter</font><br /><br />Cool beans! Was that in the southern hemisphere? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <font color="#0000ff"><strong>Just tell the truth and let the chips fall...</strong></font> </div>

 

[usn_skwerl]

i do believe some folks in the north could see it. it was just difficult because it was so close to the sun. <br /><br />i tried looking with my hand blocking out the glare, but ive been on 3rd shift(10pm-6am) for 2 1/2 years...these days, any sunlight sends me running to hide in a box <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>