ONCE, no matter how much we abused our planet, space at least remained pure.

Now, of course, tons of man-made junk orbit Earth, forming a space dust that actually inhibits study of the heavens. In our vast wisdom, however, we are about to add to this by notching up our vandalism of space.

July 4, American Independence Day, has been deliberately chosen as the day when a rocket fired from Cape Canaveral a week ago will crash into a comet beyond Mars. Creating an explosion equivalent to igniting 4.5 tonnes of TNT in space, the 23,000mph collision will send out a shower of material that scientists plan to analyse.

As with every deep space mission, the hope is that the explosion will yield clues to the origin of life here on Earth. Chances are it won't. In any case, it will serve us right if our reckless act sends the comet crashing into Earth with disastrous consequences.

Short of that, every one of the fragments blasted off the comet will remain a hazard for future space travellers. Yet, it is already anticipated that, by 2012, a robot landing craft should be able to transmit to Earth the knowledge of a comet's makeup which it is hoped will be discovered through the explosion. We are not only a destructive race but an impatient one.

LIKE every one of its kind, the poll to find Britain's favourite comedy catchphrase was utterly pointless. Predictably, the Top Twenty is dominated by current or recent examples, with the hit comedy Little Britain - so new that I hadn't heard of it - providing three of the Top Twenty, including the winner.

Here are 20 catchphrases absent from the list. All would once have made it, with many hitting the top spot:

"Can I do you now, sir?" The character Mrs Mopp in the top wartime radio programme ITMA.

"I don't mind if I do." the bibulous Col Chinstrap, another ITMA favourite.

"We're in Meredith." Naughton Wayne and Basil Radford. My mother invariably said this when entering a building in a crush, or even after unlocking her own door.

"Mind my bike." Jack Warner who later, as Dixon of Dock Green, also gave us "Evenin' all.'

"I'm proper poorly." Reg Dixon. The most soppy of catchphrases.

"Can you hear me, mother?" Sandy Powell. Almost as soppy.

"I've arrived, and to prove it I'm here." Max Byraves in Educating Archie.

"Right, monkey." Al Read

"Hello playmates." Arthur Askey

"The day war broke out..." Robb Wilton, for my money the best 20th century comedian.

"She knows you know." Hylda Baker

"Play the music, open the cage." Arthur English, 50 years ago Britain's top comic.

"Oo, you are awful, but I like you." Dick Emery.

"Nice to see you, to see you nice." Bruce Forsyth, who also coined: "Didn't he/she do well?" and "Give us a twirl, Anthea."

"What a gay day"; "Seems like a nice boy." Larry Grayson, whose third catchphrase: "Shut that door", is said to have been a response to the icy draughts in Redcar's seafront Pavilion theatre.

"Not a lot." Paul Daniels. My view of polls to find the best of anything.