Media Release - February 20, 2005

Central Florida Astronomical Society

Media Release 022005

For Immediate Release

Contact Person:

Tony Urzi, Publicity Chairman
Central Florida Astronomical Society
955 Poinsettia Drive
Chuluota, FL 32766
407-497-6141
tonyu13@earthlink.net

Amateur Observing Opportunities for the NASA Deep Impact Mission to Comet 9P/Tempel1

Small Telescope Science Program coordinator Stephanie McLaughlin from the University of Maryland will be making a presentation on Amateur Observing Opportunities at Central Florida Astronomical Societys general meeting on March 9th 2005. The meeting will be held at the Orlando Science Center, 777 East Princeton Street, Orlando, FL 32803, (407) 514-2000 at 7:00 PM. The public is welcome to come and learn about the NASA Deep Impact Mission.

The NASA Deep Impact mission is the first to explore a comets interior by using a spacecraft to create a crater, allowing us to look deep inside. Dramatic images from both the flyby spacecraft and the impactor will be sent back to Earth as data in near real time. These first ever views deep beneath a comets surface, and additional scientific measurements will provide clues to the formation of the solar system. Amateur astronomers will combine efforts with astronomers at larger telescopes to offer the public an earth-based look at this incredible July 2005 encounter with a comet.

The program encourages beginners, intermediate, and advanced observers to get out and look up. This program will gather images, photographs, and sketches of the comet into an online gallery. The program will also provide information to astronomy clubs on how to organize a comet watch for their local communities.

Tony Urzi
Publicity Chairman
Central Florida Astronomical Society
955 Poinsettia Drive
Chuluota, FL 32766
407-497-6141
tonyu13@earthlink.net