Michael A'Hearn

Michael A'Hearn was an influential American planetary scientist known for his work on comets. One of his significant contributions was leading the mission of the NASA spacecraft Deep Impact, which famously collided with the comet Tempel 1 in 2005. This event allowed scientists to study the comet's interior and gain insights into the early solar system. A'Hearn’s research focused on understanding the composition and behavior of comets, helping to unravel the mysteries of these celestial objects and their role in the evolution of our planetary neighborhood. His work has advanced our knowledge of both comets and planetary science as a whole.