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It Happens in a Flash
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| Name | Type | Width x Height | Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| PIA02108.jpg | JPEG | 720 x 573 | 49K |
| PIA02108.tif | TIFF | 720 x 573 | 1M |
This image shows a flash produced in a laboratory by a high-velocity bead slamming into dust. Though the flash itself can't be resolved, its brilliant effects can be seen in this three-second time exposure. Scientists say that the collision between Deep Impact's impactor and comet Tempel 1 may produce a similar flash.
This flash occurred when a quarter-inch sphere smashed into powdered dust at a speed of 6.4 kilometers per second (4 miles per second). Even though the actual flash lasted less than 50 millionths of a second, the camera recorded the hot debris in the impact crater (center) and the streaking ejecta. This experiment was performed at NASA's Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif.