What will happen at impact?
The comet overtakes the impactor at a closing velocity of 10 km/s or 23,000 mph. At that time, the impactor disintegrates upon impact and a shock wave carrying the energy of the moving s/c mass plows into the comet. Depending on structure of the comet (density and porosity) the shock wave will travel a short distance or a long distance. If the comet is sticky and strong, then the energy is stopped by the comet, and the wave rebounds, carrying material with it into a rising plume of gas and dust. Learn more about how craters form on our Cratering page.
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