Posted on 06/02/2005 9:04:31 AM PDT by SunkenCiv
On 26 May, JPL's unique orbital calculation software determined that Comet Catalina was on what could possibly be a collision course with Earth, though the odds of such an impact were small: just 1 chance in 300,000 of a strike on June 11, 2085. Based on the 980-metre size estimate, that would produce a 6-gigaton impact - equivalent to 6 billion tonnes of TNT.
Astronomers expected the addition of further observations to the calculations to rule out any possibility of a collision, as happens with most newly-seen objects.
But that did not quite happen. The comet's predicted pathway actually drew even closer to making a perfect bull’s-eye with the Earth - its predicted path passes within 1000 kilometres of the where the centre of our 12,700-km-diameter planet will be around that time.
However, uncertainty in the exact timing of the comet’s pass through the line of Earth’s orbit dropped the odds of an impact to about 1 in 120 million. That is very low, but the observations so far cannot categorically rule a collision out.
(Excerpt) Read more at newscientistspace.com ...
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| Roman Comet 5,000 Times More Powerful Than A-Bomb |
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| Posted by freedom44 On News/Activism 10/17/2004 3:36:42 PM PDT · 52 replies · 1,693+ views Scotsman ^ | 10/17/04 | John von Radowitz People living in southern Germany during Roman times may have witnessed a comet impact 5,000 times more destructive than the Hiroshima atom bomb, researchers say. Scientists believe a field of craters around Lake Chiemsee, in south-east Bavaria, was caused by fragments of a huge comet that broke up in the Earthís atmosphere. Celtic artefacts found at the site, including a number of coins, appear to have been strongly heated on one side. This discovery, together with evidence from ancient tree rings and Roman reports of ìstones falling from the skyî, has led researchers to conclude that the impact happened in... |
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| 'Deep Impact' Spacecraft to Travel to Comet |
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| Posted by ChristianDefender On News/Activism 11/26/2004 12:01:30 AM PST · 17 replies · 557+ views FoxNews ^ | 11-26-04 | Fox News BOULDER, Colo. ó Where the movie "Deep Impact" depicted a comet hurtling to Earth, a real-world namesake is set to go the opposite direction to eventually slam into a comet. Deep Impact ó as the spacecraft is called ó will travel six months to reach a comet, named Comet Temple 1. It will then release an 825-pound impactor to search out and collide with the 5-mile long, 2-mile wide comet. The minds at Ball Aerospace and Technologies Corporation (search) have been working on the spacecraft since 1996. |
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| New Comet Now Visible to Naked Eye |
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| Posted by Right Wing Professor On News/Activism 12/08/2004 8:40:35 PM PST · 84 replies · 2,592+ views Yahoo ^ | December 8, 2004 | Robert Roy Rritt A comet discovered earlier this year has now moved close enough to be visible without binoculars or telescopes by experienced observers under dark skies. It is expected to put on a modest show this month and into January. Comet Machholz will be at its closest to Earth Jan. 5-6, 2005, when it will be 32 million miles (51 million kilometers) away. People with dark rural skies and a good map should be able to find it on Moon-free nights now into January. Backyard astronomers have been watching Machholz for months through telescopes. It was spotted by naked-eye observers for the... |
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| NASA to send celestial hammer to break open comet |
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| Posted by Diamond On News/Activism 12/23/2004 9:20:12 AM PST · 47 replies · 798+ views EARTHTimes.org ^ | 2004-12-20 | I. A. Harry Space News | Home NASA to send celestial hammer to break open comet Posted on : 2004-12-20| Author : I. A. Harry| News Category : Space Scientific curiosity is going to cause a minor collision in space. On January 12, 2004, NASA is scheduled to launch a spacecraft named Deep Impact. This spacecraft will fire an 800-pound impactor right into the path of the 4-mile wide comet Tempel 1. The collision is scheduled to take place on July 4, 2005. The mission is stated to cost approximately $ 330 million. Scientists at NASA are very eager to know what... |
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| Comet comes to wish us a Happy New Year |
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| Posted by FairOpinion On News/Activism 01/01/2005 10:45:55 AM PST · 13 replies · 613+ views EarthTimes ^ | Jan. 1, 2005 | Dan. Y. A Go out in the open tonight after your dinner and look to the south east of the dark sky. See whether you can spot a celestial body with blue gas tail and the edge of an orange-yellowish dust tail emerging at very different angles from the coma. Thatís comet Machholz. The comet also code named as C/2004 Q2 is the 10th comet discovered by Don Machholz of Colfax, California, on August 27th. The comet will be closest to earth on Sunday and Monday, when it will be 32 million miles away. This is close in astronomical terms. It will be... |
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| Comet or Meteorite Impact Events in 1178AD? |
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| Posted by blam On News/Activism 01/03/2005 3:59:02 PM PST · 62 replies · 2,032+ views SIS Conference ^ | 1-26-2003 | Emilio Spedicato 1. Introduction As related by Clube and Napier in their monograph The Cosmic Winter, see [1], in the year 1178 A.D. four wise men of Canterbury were sitting outside on a clear and calm 18th June night, a half Moon standing placidly in the starry sky. Suddenly they noticed a flame jutting out of a horn of the Moon. Then they saw the Moon tremble and its colour change slowly from light brilliant to a darker reddish tone. Such a colour remained for all the time the Moon was visible during that phase. This story is found in a manuscript... |
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| Astronomers try to make comet sense of festive apparition |
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| Posted by missyme On News/Activism 01/04/2005 8:27:59 PM PST · 24 replies · 402+ views Scotmans News ^ | Jan 4th, 2005 A COMET that appeared in the night sky over Christmas has invited comparisons with the Star of Bethlehem. But it is amateur astronomers with telescopes and binoculars who are pursuing the object rather than Wise Men bearing gifts. Comet Machholz will be at its most visible tomorrow and Thursday. Even then it will be no more than a faint smudge of light difficult to see with the naked eye. A pair of binoculars pointing south should pick it out near the Pleiades star cluster. Comets have been proposed as an explanation for the star that guided the Three Wise Men... |
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| 'Deep Impact' Probe to Try to Puncture a Comet |
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| Posted by crushelits On News/Activism 01/09/2005 8:03:12 PM PST · 9 replies · 368+ views washingtonpost.com ^ | Monday, January 10, 2005 | Guy Gugliotta When it comes to space exploration, where scientists often measure their needs in milli-this and micro-that, Deep Impact, as its name suggests, has all the subtlety of a punch in the mouth. Barring unforeseen delays, NASA will launch on Wednesday a 1,325-pound spacecraft on a one-way trip to the comet Tempel 1. On July 3, the spacecraft will jettison an 820-pound copper projectile in the comet's path and get out of the way as comet and projectile meet at a relative speed of 23,000 mph. This, perhaps not surprisingly, will happen on July 4, and if you are somewhere in... |
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| Blasting Into the Core of a Comet to Learn Its Secrets |
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| Posted by neverdem On News/Activism 01/11/2005 5:13:06 PM PST · 9 replies · 549+ views NY Times ^ | January 11, 2005 | WARREN E. LEARY WASHINGTON, Jan. 10 - Since the earliest days of the solar system, comets have periodically smashed into Earth, blasting holes in the surface and scattering cosmic debris. Now it is our turn to strike back. On Wednesday, NASA is to launch a spacecraft called Deep Impact toward the comet Tempel 1. In six months, if all goes well, the craft will release an 820-pound copper-core "impactor" that will smash into the comet's nucleus at 23,000 miles per hour, excavating a crater that scientists say could be as large as a sports coliseum. Launching of the spacecraft from the Cape Canaveral... |
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| Heads Up North America...Comet Machholz Visible Tonight |
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| Posted by My Favorite Headache On News/Activism 01/11/2005 7:22:02 PM PST · 42 replies · 2,349+ views Comet Machholz ^ Comet Machholz (Comet 2004 Q2) Page Comet Machholz is current overhead in the early evening. Comet hunter (and SJAA club member) Don Machholz discovered it last August. How he discovered the comet was described in his article in the SJAA Ephemeris. The comet is now nearly overhead at California latitudes. In a dark sky it should be visible as a non distinct patch of light. As of January 4, 2005 it was even visible within the San Jose city limits. Unfortunately the weather there has not been cooperating. The comet is easily visible in telescope finder or binoculars |
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| Deep Impact on course for comet collision! |
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| Posted by missyme On News/Activism 01/12/2005 11:21:56 AM PST · 25 replies · 715+ views CNN ^ | Jan 12th, 2005 CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida (AP) -- A NASA spacecraft with a Hollywood name -- Deep Impact -- blasted off Wednesday on a mission to smash a hole in a comet and give scientists a glimpse at the frozen primordial ingredients of the solar system. With a launch window only one second long, Deep Impact rocketed away at the designated moment on a six-month, 268 million-mile journey to Comet Tempel 1. It will be a one-way trip that NASA hopes will reach a cataclysmic end on the Fourth of July. Scientists are counting on Deep Impact to carve out a crater that... |
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| NASA Launches Comet-Busting Spaceship |
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| Posted by paudio On News/Activism 01/12/2005 12:48:01 PM PST · 11 replies · 405+ views Fox News ^ | 1/12/05 CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. ó A NASA (search) spacecraft with a Hollywood name ó Deep Impact (search) ó blasted off Wednesday on a mission to smash a hole in a comet and give scientists a glimpse of the frozen primordial ingredients of the solar system. With a launch window only one second long, Deep Impact rocketed away at the designated moment on a six-month, 268-million-mile journey to Comet Tempel 1 (search). It will be a one-way trip that NASA hopes will reach a cataclysmic end on the Fourth of July. |
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| Spacecraft launched on mission to smash comet |
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| Posted by bayourod On News/Activism 01/12/2005 7:52:25 PM PST · 16 replies · 345+ views The Houstoin Chronicle via AP via NASA Deep Impact Web site ^ | Jan. 12, 2005 | NASA staff CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. ó A NASA spacecraft with a Hollywood name ó Deep Impact ó blasted off today on a mission to smash a hole in a comet and give scientists a glimpse of the frozen primordial ingredients of the solar system. With a launch window only one second long, Deep Impact rocketed away at the designated moment on a six-month, 268-million-mile journey to Comet Tempel 1. It will be a one-way trip that NASA hopes will reach a cataclysmic end on the Fourth of July. "We are on our way," an excited Michael A'Hearn of the University of Maryland,... |
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| Clearing skies make comet more visible |
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| Posted by BenLurkin On News/Activism 01/13/2005 11:20:23 AM PST · 12 replies · 528+ views Valley Press on Thursday, ^ | January 13, 2005. | DON HALEY Clearing skies over the high desert will finally give stargazers a chance to peer at Comet Machholz, the noticeably green comet that has been transiting constellations above the southeastern horizon for several months. The comet, a faint glowing "fuzzball" detectable with the unaided eye, is now arcing upward through the lower portion of the constellation Perseus and can easily be seen with binoculars. To find Comet Machholz, look toward the southeast after complete darkness, preferably in an area that is distant from street lights. Find the lowest recognizable constellation, Orion. It appears as a long box of four bright stars,... |
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| NASA comet-busting craft on course, instrument problem studied |
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| Posted by NormsRevenge On News/Activism 03/25/2005 7:27:52 PM PST · 9 replies · 299+ views Bakersfield Californian ^ | 3/25/05 | AP - Los Angeles PASADENA, Calif. (AP) - NASA's Deep Impact spacecraft is on course for a July 4 encounter with comet Tempel 1 but mission officials are trying to determine why a telescope that will function as its main science instrument has not reached proper focus, the space agency said Friday. Officials nonetheless expressed confidence that the mission will not be affected by the problem. Deep Impact carries an "impactor" that will be released to collide with the comet, possibly creating a stadium-size gouge while the spacecraft's instruments collect data on the material that is hurled off. The craft was launched on Jan.... |
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| Comet-hitting probe tweaks its course to target |
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| Posted by RightWhale On News/Activism 05/16/2005 8:35:53 AM PDT · 9 replies · 410+ views spaceflightnow.com ^ | 16 May 05 | NASA Comet-hitting probe tweaks its course to target NASA NEWS RELEASE Posted: May 15, 2005 Fifty-nine days before going head-to-head with comet Tempel 1, NASA's Deep Impact spacecraft successfully executed the second trajectory correction maneuver of the mission. The burn further refined the spacecraft's trajectory, or flight path, and also moved forward the expected time of the Independence Day comet encounter so impact would be visible by ground- and space-based observatories. The 95-second burn - the longest remaining firing of the spacecraft's motors prior to comet encounter -- was executed on May 4. It changed Deep Impact's speed by 18.2 kilometers... |
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I'll be so old by then that I'll be hoping it hits me.
Near the end of the article there's info about Comet Swift-Tuttle which may be of interest.
link to an older, similar topic:
Scientist: Asteroid May Hit Earth in 2029
Yahoo/AP | 12/23/04 | JOHN ANTCZAK
Posted on 12/23/2004 8:24:16 PM PST by hole_n_one
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1307719/posts
That is a ways out, eh? I'll be, hmm, about 127 years old. In about 80 years I plan to start a real-time thread here on FR, to discuss the news updates regarding the approach. See you then? ;')
127 years old and still on the voting roll (courtesy of the Democratic party!)
Sweet. Death by celestial snowcone.
But what impact will this have on me personnally? :-)
980 meters mean it will be a regional disaster, not a global one. Not big enough. It would kick up enough dust globally to rival some pretty massive volcanic explosions, but nothing serious in that effect.
There's still the matter of asteroid 2004 MN4 to deal with in 2036.
We ought to get some hardware into space soon so we can deal with this and whatever others come along without a great deal of [fiscal] excitement.
Not sure. I'm still imagining enough strawberry syrup for a snowcone that size.
Beg to differ. Comets are moving faster (in general) than asteroids, and have much more energy. Also,
980 meter = 0.6089438 mile
This would indeed cause a major and worldwide disaster; the Chicxulub impactor was in the area of 10 km (10 kilometer = 6.2137119 mile), something more than 1000 times the size (assuming more or less spherical, 10 ^ 3) of this comet (as far as is known; exact dimensions of this "new" comet are not yet known, but it doesn't seem very likely to increase tenfold, either), moving 10 to 20 km a second. The eleven largest nuclei of SL-9 (the shattered comet which struck Jupiter in 1994) were each between 2 and 4 km in diameter.
http://www.onlineconversion.com/length_common.htm
A permanent human presence on the Moon seems like an excellent idea in this connection. :')
What is needed for hardware would be several large ion motors with fuel placed in solar orbit ready to be moved to and attached to any incoming body of import so as to nudge its orbit out of the way at an early moment and without the necessity of calling a special session of Congress or the General Assembly or causing stress to the industrious farming people of earth and their animals.
Wholeheartedly agree with your choice of engine. But the way to bump the interloper is to attach the engine to smaller (but still substantial) body, and use that to whack it. Of course, that capability will be frowned upon, from the political standpoint, because it can easily be weaponized. Using smallish asteroids to destroy cities is easier and cheaper than building a nuclear program, and the result can look like an act of nature.
Nudging the body is only the first part of the plan. The electric motors will continue to fire until the body is captured into a convenient orbit such as the L-4 or the L-5 libration point. Depending on composition, it might have some mineral value or simply mass value.
Crap, June 11, 2085 I've got tickets to a Rangers game that day, just my luck.
Shuttle-derived Launch Vehicle (SDLV), 80-100 metric tons to LEO. NASA is expected to formally reveal its SDLV plans in the first week of July. AKA BDB.
"Shuttle-derived Launch Vehicle (SDLV), 80-100 metric tons to LEO."
About time! This was first suggested 20 years ago.
Maybe it will hit Mecca!
That's a long time to wait for a winning season!
;-)
The new director favors the BDB. The old director did not know what a BDB is. The BDB doesn't have to be based on the Space Shuttle, but at least some of the hardware is still in manufacture, so that will avoid some tooling and training costs.
BDB... "Big D***** Booster"... ?
http://www.cpia.jhu.edu/Acronyms/
Bis(difluoramino)butane
Wagons, ho!
I think problems will arise if an old design is revived (say, the F-1, the production for which could be restarted), partly because of the mindless pursuit of the new, but also, and mainly, because of the political struggle over where the components would be built. We already know where the Dims stand -- against human spaceflight, particularly a return to the Moon. Von Braun's model was a step by step approach: learn how to do each job needed to get to (ultimately) Mars. First, get to space and reenter; then orbit; then spacewalking; then rendezvous; then docking; then a trip around the Moon and back; then test the landing vehicle and safe return; then land, plant the flag, grab some rocks, and safe return; then repeat the process a number of times.
All of that will also have to be redone, probably in simulators using CGI.
Von Braun's human mission to Mars would have involved twelve Saturn V launches to assemble in LEO and send it on its way. Of course, it would have merely begun the process of getting there. The first mission might have been crewed, but would have been an orbit-and-return. Then again, perhaps Apollo missions (including 18 through 21, which were scrapped) would have been judged to have provided a sufficient base of experience for an immediate landing mission.
Saturn 5 Blueprints Safely in Storage
space.com | 13 March 2000 | By Michael Paine
Posted on 01/08/2004 2:20:33 PM PST by Dead Dog
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1054183/posts
NASA has the concept of an earth-Mars shuttle system, which might consist of more than one shuttle vehicle continually going back and forth, as well as an earth-moon shuttle system. The idea of a transportation infrastructure would be intended for longterm discovery and development rather than a few one-off missions. That is, there would be regular transportation to and from the moon and Mars from now on. While it would cost something to set up, it should be cost-effective in the long run. Something similar would be done with respect to the Asteroid Belt by the private sector if asteroid mining is ever allowed.
Three objects with Torino 1 on this list:
http://neo.jpl.nasa.gov/risk/
Asteroid mining might be better done with NEOs, rather than all the way out to the asteroid belt.
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Back to main Impact Risk Page.
These results were computed on May 31, 2005
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Not much to choose from with NEOs. Asteroid Belt has all three kinds.
Ah ha. Here's the blankity blank URL. The NEO JPL NASA people added "P". I guess that makes the ice melt faster or somethin'.
http://neo.jpl.nasa.gov/risk/p2005jq5.html
http://www.house.gov/science/press/109/109-78.htm
NOAA, NASA BILLS SAIL THROUGH COMMITTEE
WASHINGTON, D.C., May 17, 2005
H.R. 1022, also introduced by Rep. Rohrabacher, would establish a program within NASA to detect, track, catalogue, and characterize the physical properties of near-Earth asteroids and comets equal to or greater than 100 meters in diameter in order to assess the threat of Earth being struck by such near-Earth objects. The bill would authorize appropriations for the program of $20 million for each of fiscal years 2006 through 2007.
Rep. Rohrabacher said, "The potential catastrophe of an asteroid hitting Earth should no longer be ignored. We need to know what is out there. Accounts of asteroids passing close to Earth with almost no prior warning should be enough to get our attention. The first step is to assess the threat. Given the vast number of asteroids and comets that inhabit the Earth's neighborhood, greater efforts for tracking and monitoring these objects are critical. This bill would direct NASA to expand their current program to track and detect potential threats and would provide a funding authorization. Any threat that would wreak havoc on or world should be studied and prevented if possible. We have the technology, we need the direction – this bill provides that."
The threat has been assessed for years. When will hardware be placed in deep space so something may actually be done?
Too easy to weaponize.
That URL I posted in message 33 is gone now. This is annoying.
They are going to have 1000s of tungsten telephone poles up there anyway. No need to worry.
NEO Earth Close Approaches
http://neo.jpl.nasa.gov/ca/
NEOs Removed from Impact Risk Tables
http://neo.jpl.nasa.gov/risk/removed.html
everyone could use a laugh, right?
Huge asteroid to fly past Earth (Toutatis hoax - how and why)
space.com | 04/09/29
Posted on 09/29/2004 5:00:09 AM PDT by Truth666
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1230167/posts
1. A lot more material to choose from, and
2. I needed to compute far fewer orbits.
:')
2000 SG344
http://neo.jpl.nasa.gov/risk/2000sg344.html
99942 2004 MN4
http://neo.jpl.nasa.gov/risk/a99942.html
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1307719/posts?q=1&&page=251
2004 VD17
http://neo.jpl.nasa.gov/risk/2004vd17.html
1994 WR12
http://neo.jpl.nasa.gov/risk/1994wr12.html
Upcoming Close Approaches To Earth
http://neo.jpl.nasa.gov/ca/
Update on Underwater Megalithic
Posted by callisto
On News/Activism 11/21/2001 2:08:00 PM EST · 153 replies · 3,863+ views
EarthFiles | 11.19.01 | Linda Moulton Howe
In May 2001, engineer Paulina Zelitzky, President, ADC Corporation, Victoria, B. C., Canada and Havana, Cuba, announced the discovery of megalithic structures 2,200 feet down at the western tip of Cuba. November 19, 2001 Havana, Cuba - The story about a possible megalithic site half a mile down off the western tip of Cuba first broke this past May when a Reuters News Service reporter interviewed the deep ocean engineer who first reported unusual sidescan sonar of the discovery. Her name is Paulina Zelitsky. Ms. Zelitsky was born in Poland, studied engineering in the Soviet Union, was assigned to ...
Early Christians Hid The Origins Of The Bethlehem Star
Posted by blam
On News/Activism 12/21/2001 8:11:00 AM EST · 156 replies · 1,041+ views
New Scientist | 12-21-2001 | Marcus Chown
Early Christians hid the origins of the Bethlehem star 13:15 21 December 01 Marcus Chown A US astronomer claims he has found the first mention of the star of Bethlehem outside the Bible. The reference is in a 4th-century manuscript written by a Roman astrologer and Christian convert called Firmicus Maternus. Photo: Bridgeman Art Library Michael Molnar, formerly of Rutgers University in New Jersey, is the originator of the idea that the star of Bethlehem was not a spectacular astronomical event such as a supernova or a comet but an obscure astrological one. The event would nevertheless have been ...
Viewer's Guide to New Comet Ikeya-Zhang
Posted by green team 1999
On News/Activism 03/10/2002 1:15:59 AM EST · 2 replies · 179+ views
space.com | march-8-2002 | By Joe Rao
Sun. Mar 10, 2002 News nbsp;Missions/Launches nbsp;Science/Astronomynbsp;nbsp;Astronom Systemnbsp;nbsp;Planet Earthnbsp;nbsp;General Sciencenbsp;nbsp;Hubble Space Telescopenbsp;nbsp;Spacewatchnbsp;nbsp;V Space Tour nbsp;Technology nbsp;Space News Business nbsp;Special Reports nbsp;The Space Library nbsp;SETI: Search for Life nbsp;Photos/Videos nbsp;SpaceTV nbsp;Entertainment nbsp;Message Boards nbsp;Starry Night nbsp;The Space Store Viewer's Guide to New Comet Ikeya-Zhang By Joe RaoSpecial to SPACE.composted: 07:00 am ET08 March 2002 A big question for skywatchers during the next couple of months is how bright the newly discovered comet, Ikeya-Zhang, will become. The answer can't be accurately predicted, but this much is nearly certain: The comet will provide an opportunity that comes along just once or twice...
Astronomy Picture of the Day 3-10-02
Posted by petuniasevan
On General/Chat 03/11/2002 2:48:26 AM EST · 116+ views
NASA | 3-10-02 | Robert Nemiroff and Jerry Bonnell
Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. 2002 March 10 A Southern Sky View Credit amp; Copyright: Gordon Garradd Explanation: On 1996 March 22, a Galaxy and a comet shared the southern sky. They were captured together, from horizon to horizon, in the night sky above Loomberah, New South Wales, Australia by astronomer Gordon Garradd. Garradd used a home made all-sky camera with a fisheye lens, resulting in a circular 200 degree field of view....
Astronomy Picture of the Day 3-07-02
Posted by petuniasevan
On General/Chat 03/11/2002 11:24:59 AM EST · 2 replies · 142+ views
NASA | 3-07-02 | Robert Nemiroff and Jerry Bonnell
Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. 2002 March 7 Comet Ikeya-Zhang Brightens Credit amp; Copyright: Gerald Rhemann Explanation: In the last week, Comet Ikeya-Zhang has become bright enough to be just visible to the unaided eye. Based on its present activity, observers are optimistic that Ikeya-Zhang will become substantially brighter. This composite color image from March 3rd, captured with a wide-field telescope, shows this active comet's bright, condensed coma and a delightful array of...
Astronomy Picture of the Day 3-18-02
Posted by petuniasevan
On General/Chat 03/18/2002 1:12:35 AM EST · 3 replies · 96+ views
NASA | 3-18-02 | Robert Nemiroff and Jerry Bonnell
Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. 2002 March 18 Comet Ikeya Zhang's Busy Tail Credit & Copyright: Gilbert Jones Explanation: One of the brightest comets of the past five years will likely reach its peak brightness this week. Comet Ikeya-Zhang, officially known as C/2002 C1, can now be seen without aide from a dark location above the western horizon shortly after sunset. Recent luminosity estimates for Comet Ikeya-Zhang place it between magnitudes three and...
Astronomy Picture of the Day 3-26-02
Posted by petuniasevan
On General/Chat 03/26/2002 8:05:30 AM EST · 18 replies · 181+ views
NASA | 3-26-02 | Robert Nemiroff and Jerry Bonnell
Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. 2002 March 26 Comet Ikeya-Zhang Over Tenerife Credit & Copyright: Francisco A. Rodriguez Ramirez (AstroEduca) Explanation: Comet Ikeya-Zhang has become bright enough to stand out in the night sky. Discovered February 1, the comet has now just rounded the Sun and has likely attained its peak brightness. The comet appears near the Sun and over the next week moves from the evening sky (just after sunset) to the...
Astronomy Picture of the Day 4-3-02
Posted by petuniasevan
On General/Chat 04/03/2002 11:21:39 PM EST · 8 replies · 121+ views
NASA | Robert Nemiroff and Jerry Bonnell
Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. 2002 April 4 Ikeya-Zhang: Comet Over Colorado Credit & Copyright: Jimmy Westlake (Colorado Mountain College) Explanation: Comet Ikeya-Zhang ("ee-KAY-uh JONG") has become a most photogenic comet. This lovely early evening view of the comet in Rocky Mountain skies looks northwest over ridges and low clouds. The time exposure was recorded on March 31st from an 8,000 foot elevation near Yampa, Colorado, USA. Sporting a sweeping yellowish dust tail...
Astronomy Picture of the Day 4-12-02
Posted by petuniasevan
On General/Chat 04/12/2002 10:16:30 PM EDT · 6 replies · 127+ views
NASA | 4-12-02 | Robert Nemiroff and Jerry Bonnell
Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. 2002 April 12 A Galaxy is not a Comet Credit & Copyright: Juan Carlos Casado Explanation: This gorgeous galaxy and comet portrait was recorded on April 5th in the skies over the Oriental Pyrenees near Figueres, Spain. From a site above 1,100 meters, astrophotographer Juan Carlos Casado used a guided time exposure, fast film, and a telephoto lens to capture the predicted conjunction of the bright Comet Ikeya-Zhang...
Astronomy Picture of the Day 4-22-02
Posted by petuniasevan
On General/Chat 04/22/2002 12:16:35 AM EDT · 10 replies · 112+ views
NASA | 4-22-02 | Robert Nemiroff and Jerry Bonnell
Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. 2002 April 22 Comet and Aurora Over Alaska Credit & Copyright: Dennis Mammana (Skyscapes) Explanation: Can you spot the comet? Flowing across the frozen Alaskan landscape is an easily visible, colorful aurora. Just to the lower left, however, well in the background, is something harder to spot: Comet Ikeya-Zhang, the brightest comet of recent years. Although the aurora faded in minutes, the comet is just now beginning to...
Astronomy Picture of the Day 4-26-02
Posted by petuniasevan
On General/Chat 04/26/2002 1:34:38 AM EDT · 5 replies · 185+ views
NASA | 4-26-02 | Robert Nemiroff and Jerry Bonnell
Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. 2002 April 26 Comet Ikeya-Zhang Meets The ISS Credit & Copyright Carol Lakomiak Explanation: Still catching the Sun's rays, the International Space Station (ISS) cruises across the early evening sky above Tomahawk, Wisconsin, USA. Recorded on April 9 around 9 pm CDT in a 30 second exposure, the sunlit space station traced this bright streak moving east (right) through the constellation Cassiopeia. Below lies Comet Ikeya-Zhang sporting a...
Astronomy Picture of the Day 5-15-02
Posted by petuniasevan
On General/Chat 05/15/2002 1:51:39 AM EDT · 9 replies · 122+ views
NASA | 5-15-02 | Robert Nemiroff and Jerry Bonnell
Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. 2002 May 15 Tail Wags of Comet Ikeya-Zhang Credit & Copyright: Michael Karrer Explanation: As Comet Ikeya-Zhang approached the Sun two months ago, it developed a complex blue ion tail. The tail was composed of ions that boiled off the nucleus and were pushed away from the Sun by the out-flowing fast-moving particles of the solar wind. Complexity in the tail is created by comet nucleus rotation, variability...
Astronomy Picture of the Day 5-25-02
Posted by petuniasevan
On General/Chat 05/25/2002 12:17:12 AM EDT · 7 replies · 189+ views
NASA | 5-25-02 | Robert Nemiroff and Jerry Bonnell
Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. 2002 May 25 A String Of Pearls Credit: H. Weaver (JHU), T. Smith (STScI), NASA Explanation: Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9, named after its co-discoverers, was often referred to as the "string of pearls" comet. It is famous for its suggestive appearance as well as its collision with the planet Jupiter! The comet's original single nucleus was torn to pieces by Jupiter's strong gravity during a close encounter with the...
Asteroid detected in a close call with Earth
Posted by vannrox
On News/Activism 06/20/2002 8:17:36 PM EDT · 11 replies · 279+ views
Yahoo News | Thu Jun 20, 4:22 PM ET | By THOMAS WAGNER, Associated Press Writer
Asteroid detected in a close call with Earth Thu Jun 20, 4:22 PM ETBy THOMAS WAGNER, Associated Press Writer LONDON - An asteroid the size of a soccer field narrowly missed the Earth by 75,000 miles (120,000 kms) last week, in the closest known approach by objects of this size in decades, scientists said Thursday. "In the unlikely event the asteroid had struck Earth in a populated area, it would have caused considerable loss of life," said Grant Stokes, the principal investigator for the Lincoln Laboratory Near Earth Asteroid Research Project, whose New Mexico observatory spotted the object. "The energy...
Astronomers See Comet Break-up
Posted by blam
On News/Activism 07/26/2002 10:29:08 AM EDT · 15 replies · 121+ views
BBC | 7-26-2002
Friday, 26 July, 2002, 13:08 GMT 14:08 UKAstronomers see comet break-up The fragments are strung out in space By Dr David Whitehouse BBC News Online science editor Astronomers in the Czech Republic and Hawaii have seen Comet 57P/du Toit-Neujmin-Delporte splinter into at least 19 fragments. Initial observation from the 1.2-metre (3.9-foot) telescope at Mount Palomar in California, US, on 11 July appeared to show a companion to the comet. Further work done the following day at the Klet Observatory in the Czech Republic then confirmed the comet had actually split apart. Pictures taken from Mauna Kea in Hawaii with the...
New Comet Hoenig (And how it was discovered)
Posted by Joe Hadenuf
On News/Activism 08/04/2002 4:33:15 PM EDT · 10 replies · 199+ views
Sky and Telescope | 8/4/02 | By Roger W. Sinnott
August 2, 2002 | A comet first seen by a German amateur astronomer in July, then lost for five days, is about to become an easy target for small telescopes in the Northern Hemisphere. The nearly tailless object looks like a fuzzy, 10th-magnitude star, slowly making its way from Andromeda into Cassiopeia. It should brighten to 9th magnitude by mid-August as it enters the north circumpolar sky, then remain this bright through September while turning south across Ursa Major. It was shortly after midnight on July 22nd that Sebastian Hoenig of Dossenheim, Germany, found himself unable to sleep. So he...
Comet's Debris Promises Celestial Light-Show
Posted by blam
On News/Activism 08/11/2002 2:35:09 PM EDT · 31 replies · 124+ views
Ananova | 8-11-2002
Comet's debris promises celestial light-show Earth is about to plough through a thick cloud of comet dust giving sky watchers a celestial treat. The Perseid meteor shower, which puts on a display at this time every year, is now approaching its maximum intensity. It will peak tomorrow, sending shooting stars blazing trails across the sky at a rate which could reach two a minute. This year's Perseid show should be a good one because there will be virtually no moon, and the meteor numbers are expected to be higher than usual. The Perseids, which have mystified and terrified people for...
"Better, Faster, Cheaper" May Have Claimed Another Satellite (NASA)
Posted by cogitator
On News/Activism 08/19/2002 3:17:30 PM EDT · 14 replies · 201+ views
Space.com | 08/19/2002 | Leonard David
NASA/APL Hoping CONTOUR Will Send a Signal While efforts to locate the lost in space Comet Nucleus Tour (CONTOUR) spacecraft continued through the weekend, speculation has begun on what may have thrown the mission awry. Over the last several days, a series of telescope, radar and radio checks were conducted in search of the probe. Hope now centers on CONTOUR's built-in smarts to cycle through and broadcast over a set of onboard antennas. That sequence -- lasting several hours -- was pre-programmed to start 96 hours after CONTOUR received its last command. That could mean ground controllers might hear...
Did Asteroids And Comets Turn The Tides Of Civilization?
Posted by blam
On General/Chat 07/11/2002 4:56:44 PM EDT · 81 replies · 3,308+ views
Discovering Archaeology | July/August 1999 | Mike Baillie
Did Asteroids and Comets Turn the Tides of Civilization? By Mike Baillie The heart of humanity seems at times to have lost its cadence, the rhythmic beat of history collapsing into impotent chaos. Wars raged. Pestilence spread. Famine reigned. Death came early and hard. Dynasties died, and civilization flickered. Such a time came in the sixth century A.D. The Dark Ages settled heavily over Europe. Rome had been beaten back from its empire. Art and science stagnated. Even the sun turned its back. "We marvel to see no shadows of our bodies at noon, to feel the mighty vigor of...
Astronomy Picture of the Day 7-24-02
Posted by petuniasevan
On General/Chat 07/24/2002 11:37:34 AM EDT · 23 replies · 218+ views
NASA | 7-24-02 | Robert Nemiroff and Jerry Bonnell
Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. 2002 July 24 Our Busy Solar System Credit & Copyright: MPC, CBAT, Harvard CfA, IAU Explanation: Our Solar System is a busy place. Although the major planets get the most press, a swarm of rocks, comets, and asteroids also exist. The above plot shows the placement of known inner Solar System objects on 2002 July 20. The light blue lines indicate the orbits of planets. The green dots...
Astronomy Picture of the Day 8-02-02
Posted by petuniasevan
On General/Chat 08/02/2002 1:54:25 AM EDT · 8 replies · 250+ views
NASA | 8-02-02 | Robert Nemiroff and Jerry Bonnell
Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. 2002 August 2 Comet 57P Falls to Pieces Credit: Y. Fern·ndez, S. Sheppard, D. Jewitt (University of Hawai`i) Explanation: Comet 57P has fallen to pieces, at least 19 of them. Orbiting the Sun every 5.9 years or so this faint comet - also christened Comet 57P/du Toit-Neujmin-Delporte for its three 1941 co-discoverers - is simply 57th on the list of comets known to be periodic, beginning with Comet...
Astronomy Picture of the Day 8-9-02
Posted by petuniasevan
On General/Chat 08/09/2002 4:24:30 PM EDT · 4 replies · 162+ views
NASA | 8-09-02 | Robert Nemiroff and Jerry Bonnell
Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. 2002 August 9 Fireworks and Shooting Stars Credit & Copyright: Jim Steele Explanation: Experimenting with a new telescope and camera, photographer Jim Steele captured this surreal but festive image of fireworks in the night sky above Ashland, Oregon. The date was July 4th and the fiery streaks were part of the traditional annual celebration of independence day in the United States. Fiery streaks from another annual event will...
Comets,Meteors & Myth: New Evidence For Toppled Civilizations And Bibical Tales
Posted by blam
On General/Chat 08/11/2002 8:32:56 PM EDT · 18 replies · 1,287+ views
Science Tuesday/Space.com | 11-13-2002 | Robert Roy Brit
Comets, Meteors & Myth: New Evidence for Toppled Civilizations and Biblical Tales By Robert Roy Britt Senior Science Writer posted: 07:00 am ET 13 November 2001 "...and the seven judges of hell ... raised their torches, lighting the land with their livid flame. A stupor of despair went up to heaven when the god of the storm turned daylight into darkness, when he smashed the land like a cup." -- An account of the Deluge from the Epic of Gilgamesh, circa 2200 B.C. If you are fortunate enough to see the storm of shooting stars predicted for the Nov. 18...
Astronomy Picture of the Day 11-05-02
Posted by petuniasevan
On General/Chat 11/05/2002 8:12:48 AM EST · 1 reply · 147+ views
NASA | 11-05-02 | Robert Nemiroff and Jerry Bonnell
Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. 2002 November 5 Leonids Over Joshua Tree National Park Credit & Copyright: Wally Pacholka (Astropics) & Tony Hallas (Astrophoto) Explanation: This year's Leonid Meteor Shower is predicted to have two peaks, like last year's. The first peak should come at about 04:00 hours Universal Time (UT) on November 19 and be primarily visible from Western Europe before sunrise. The second peak is predicted to occur at about 10:30...
Astronomy Picture of the Day 11-07-02
Posted by petuniasevan
On General/Chat 11/07/2002 8:05:13 AM EST · 4 replies · 131+ views
NASA | 11-07-02 | Robert Nemiroff and Jerry Bonnell
Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. 2002 November 7 2001 Leonids: Meteors in Perspective Credit & Copyright: Christophe Marlot Explanation: The 2001 Leonid storm was so intense that the meteor shower's radiant, the point on the sky from which the fleeting trails seemed to diverge, was easy to spot. But the bits of debris that created the meteors really moved along parallel paths, following the orbit of their parent comet Tempel-Tuttle. Their apparent divergence...
Astronomy Picture of the Day 11-16-02
Posted by petuniasevan
On General/Chat 11/16/2002 3:09:12 AM EST · 3 replies · 177+ views
NASA | 11-16-02 | Robert Nemiroff and Jerry Bonnell
Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. 2002 November 16 Tempel-Tuttle: The Leonid CometCredit & Copyright: T. Puckett (Puckett Observatory) Explanation: Star trails streak this composite time exposure of comet Tempel-Tuttle recorded by Tim Puckett on January 26, 1998. Then passing through the inner solar system on its 33 year orbit around the Sun, Tempel-Tuttle brightened unexpectedly, but binoculars or small telescopes were still required to visually observe it. Tempel-Tuttle is also called "the Leonid...<
