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Posted on 10/25/2007 10:54:26 AM PDT by Fractal Trader
The Red Sox may have been favored in Game 1 of the World Series, but no pundit predicted that Boston would explode for 13 runs and wallop the Colorado Rockies. If baseball writers would have looked skyward, they might have noticed an omen on the northeast horizon.
"There is a cosmic explosion event that mimics the Sox outburst," Richard P. Binzel, a professor of planetary science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, said today in an e-mail.
A distant comet exploded in a blast of light that shined a million times brighter than the night before.
"Comet Holmes, which has been orbiting quietly since its discovery in 1892, has undergone a million-fold brightness increase on October 24 -- and is now visible to the naked eye (though difficult from under the lights of Fenway)," Binzel said.
The comet was discovered by Englishman Edwin Holmes in November 1892 -- the same year the Boston Beaneaters went 102 and 48 and captured the National League Pennant. The Beaneaters team, which would eventually change its name to the Braves and move to Milwaukee and Atlanta, beat the Cleveland Spiders that year in the World Championship Series.
Can the Red Sox' fortunes be predicted by celestial events? Some fans may recall the lunar eclipse of Oct. 27, 2004 -- the night Boston won its first World Series in 86 years. For Game 2 tonight, there may be another sign in the sky.
"There will be a full moon (but no lunar eclipse as in 2004) for tonight's World Series game," Binzel said.
(Excerpt) Read more at boston.com ...
Somehow, I think that having the second-highest payroll in the MLB and buying players right and left with insane salaries has more to do with it...
Red Sox beat 3rd lowest paid MLB team
What would cause a comet to explode?
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BY KULVINDER SINGH CHADHA
ASTRONOMY NOW
Posted: October 25, 2007
Reports from the amateur astronomers (from as far afield as North America, Spain, Iran and Japan) suggest a golden-hued, fuzzy, star or planet-like appearance, with a bright 20 arcsecond interior surrounded by a greenish coma (suggesting the presence of cyanogen).
The reason for 17P/Holmes sudden brightness may be due to the comet’s core breaking up, or possibly because of a collision with an unseen object
“Comet Holmes is not alone in exhibiting anomalous effects. In the past, other comets have undergone unexpected outbursts in brightness. And this is probably not the first outburst for Comet Holmes: when it was discovered in 1892, it was likely in outburst mode, since it became as bright as fourth magnitude and was dimly visible to the naked eye.”
Auriga is nearly overhead when I go out to check on the aurora. I will be looking for comet Holmes, and for the color they claim for the object.
Heat/friction? Gravity will cause it to seperate.
Thanks.
What would cause a comet to explode?
A leaky fuel line? A punctured gas tank?
If Comet Holmes had been named after Johnny “Wadd” Holmes, we’d have the easy answer to BL’s question...
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