Possible cometary impact - Mars 2014

[Daxed]

http://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/sbdb.cgi?sstr=c%2F2013%20a...

This looks a possibility for some entertainment next year.

Check out the close approach data.

Increased confidence in the orbital data by the end of this summer apparently. But hopefully this could be a meeting between the planet and the coma or even the nucleous itself, now that would be quite a show.

[Eric Mc]

Mars is a relatively small target. I'd be surprised if it hits. But will be spectacular if it does.

[IainT]

Max distance ~1.1M km
Nominal distance 105,104 km
Min Distance 0 km

I'm assuming that the nominal distance is the closest they expect it to get but impact is within the error margin?

[Pints]

Eric Mc said:

Mars is a relatively small target. I'd be surprised if it hits. But will be spectacular if it does.

Probably a daft question, but would the effects of an impact be visible with the neked eye? Or should I pop out this weekend for a novice telescope?

[Eric Mc]

It might - depending on a number of factors.

First of all, Mars has to be visible in Earth's sky at the time the object hits Mars. If Mars is too close to the sun in our sky, then it will be in the sky during daylight hours only and therefore won't be observable by earth based observers.

Secondly, to see any impact or atmospheric entry at all you would need a decent telescope.

Thirdly, the object hitting Mars has to be big enough to either leave a firey trail in the sky as it enters the atmosphere of Mars and/or will need to be big enough to create a flash if and when it impacts the Martian surface.

Fourthly, Mars rotates on its axis once every 24.5 earth hours, so for the actual impact to be visible, the object would have to hit that side of Mars which happens top be facing earth.

[Pints]

I'll hang on to that telescope fund then, and spend it on a DSLR instead.

[jmorgan]

Looked at Mars through a 28". Be surprised if you see anything hitting it unless it is going to be a biggy I would have thought? Not much of an atmosphere either.

But they have found recent impacts, that is the imaging sats around it at the moment have take a shot of a part of Mars, then a few years later looked again and there is an impact crater.

Edit
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/MRO/news/mro2009...

Erm, Rovers TPFT or fully comp?

Edited by jmorgan on Friday 1st March 20:24