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Approaching comet may outshine the moon
Reuters ^ | Fri Dec 28, 2012 5:28pm EST | Irene Klotz

Posted on 12/31/2012 3:58:25 AM PST by Olog-hai

A comet blazing toward Earth could outshine the full moon when it passes by at the end of next year—if it survives its close encounter with the sun.

The recently discovered object, known as comet ISON, is due to fly within 1.2 million miles (1.9 million km) from the center of the sun on Nov. 28, 2013 said astronomer Donald Yeomans, head of NASA’s Near Earth Object Program at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif.

As the comet approaches, heat from the sun will vaporize ices in its body, creating what could be a spectacular tail that is visible in Earth’s night sky without telescopes or even binoculars from about October 2013 through January 2014. …

(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...


TOPICS: Astronomy; Chit/Chat; Science
KEYWORDS: 2012s1; artyomnovichonok; astronomy; c2012s1; catastrophism; comet; comet2012s1; cometison; comets; greatcometof1680; greencomet; ison; kislovodsk; russia; vitalinevski
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To: Mr. K

Hale-Bopp was clearly visible to the naked eye back around 1997...


21 posted on 12/31/2012 7:27:52 AM PST by who knows what evil? (G-d saved more animals than people on the ark...www.siameserescue.org.)
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To: tophat9000

“Question..this comet is supposed to pass very near that earth..inside the orbit of some satellites............with the meld off and possible breaking off of parts on this comet. .is it orbital path still predictable or may it be altered to some degree?”

Worst case scenario:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VNtsVP42bOE


22 posted on 12/31/2012 7:32:35 AM PST by Rebelbase
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To: tophat9000
.is it orbital path still predictable or may it be altered to some degree?

Somewhat predictable, but not entirely due to its close pass by the sun. It could well break up into multiple fragments.

Like another poster, I'd give serious money if we could redirect this to DC. Even better if we could get it to beak into a few pieces, and hit DC, LA, NYC.

23 posted on 12/31/2012 7:38:30 AM PST by zeugma (Those of us who work for a living are outnumbered by those who vote for a living.)
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To: Olog-hai

Didn’t anyone see, “Night Of The Comet” (1984)?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6dOoyghxb0


24 posted on 12/31/2012 7:41:46 AM PST by Jack Hydrazine (It's the end of the world as we know it and I feel fine!)
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To: Olog-hai
A SIGN of the TIMES ?
25 posted on 12/31/2012 7:44:52 AM PST by Yosemitest (It's Simple ! Fight, ... or Die !)
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To: Jack Hydrazine

****Didn’t anyone see, “Night Of The Comet” (1984)?***

“Daddy would have given us UZIs!”


26 posted on 12/31/2012 7:47:51 AM PST by Ruy Dias de Bivar (REOPEN THE CLOSED MENTAL INSTITUTIONS! Damn the ACLU!)
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27 posted on 12/31/2012 8:36:22 AM PST by SunkenCiv (Romney would have been worse, if you're a dumb ass.)
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To: brytlea; cripplecreek; decimon; bigheadfred; KoRn; Grammy; married21; steelyourfaith; Mmogamer; ...

Thanks Olog-hai. Extra ping to APoD members, a few links above.


28 posted on 12/31/2012 8:37:25 AM PST by SunkenCiv (Romney would have been worse, if you're a dumb ass.)
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To: Flavious_Maximus

“I hope a small chunk of it lands in Washington DC.”

if that small chunk is around 3 miles in diameter then that would work for me


29 posted on 12/31/2012 9:03:22 AM PST by Democrat_media (media makes mass shooters household names to create more & take our guns)
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Thanks .


30 posted on 12/31/2012 9:06:56 AM PST by SunkenCiv (Romney would have been worse, if you're a dumb ass.)
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To: Mr. K

Sounds like Hale-Bopp, 1995.


31 posted on 12/31/2012 9:17:41 AM PST by ops33 (Senior Master Sergeant, USAF (Retired))
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To: Mr. K

That was Comet Hyakutake. I did the same thing as well. The tail took up a third of the sky from a vantage point high in the mountains.


32 posted on 12/31/2012 9:44:32 AM PST by ResponseAbility (The truth of liberalism is the stupid can feel smart, the lazy entitled, and the immoral unashamed)
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To: rockrr; DManA

I was really excited to see it at dusk- until I realized I was looking at a vapour trail.


33 posted on 12/31/2012 10:25:40 AM PST by Squawk 8888 (True North- Strong Leader, Strong Dollar, Strong and Free!)
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To: ResponseAbility

it was pretty amazing- i expected to be small with a tail maybe half the size of the moon- I never expected to see it so huge- but I had to go far from the city to see it. It was so spectacular I drove home to get the kids to come out to see.


34 posted on 12/31/2012 11:30:29 AM PST by Mr. K (There are lies, dammed lies, statistics, and democrap talking points.)
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To: Olog-hai

The world failed to end on 12/21/12, so all the things that were going to happen in 2013 are now back in the news.


35 posted on 01/01/2013 12:44:05 PM PST by TheOldLady
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