NASA Launches Impact Probe Toward Comet

The U.S. space agency's "Deep Impact" spacecraft successfully launched its impact probe early Sunday for the final dive and explosion into the center of the comet.

NASA is guiding the probe from the spacecraft into the core of the Tempel One comet where it will explode Monday, giving scientists a glimpse into the physical composition of comets and clues to the formation of the solar system.

The probe will make the final plunge into the comet as both the probe and the Deep Impact spacecraft send photos back to NASA's mission control.

The collision will not be visible to the naked eye, but amateur astronomers with telescopes might be able to see the cosmic fireworks just before 0600 UT Monday, mainly in parts of the Western Hemisphere.

Some information for this report provided by AP.