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'Comet of the century' nears Earth
Fox News ^
| July 18, 2013
| Megan Gannon
Posted on 07/18/2013 9:48:26 AM PDT by Sopater
About 10,000 years ago, Comet ISON left our solar system's distant shell, a region known as the Oort cloud, and began streaking toward the sun. This November, the icy wanderer will reach the climax of its journey, potentially providing a stunning skywatching show here on Earth.
Comet ISON was discovered just last September by two Russian amateur astronomers. Scientists have since recognized ISON as a possible "comet of the century," but to live up to its promise, it will have to survive its dangerous perihelion, or closest approach to the sun.
ISON is what's known as a sungrazing comet. These suicidal objects have orbits that bring them within 850,000 miles of the sun, and scientists estimate that ISON's closest pass will be about 730,000 miles above the surface of Earth's star.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
TOPICS: Astronomy
KEYWORDS: 2012s1; comet; comet2012s1; cometison; greencomet; ison; science; space
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About 10,000 years ago, Comet ISON left our solar system's distant shell, a region known as the Oort cloud...
Allegedly...
1
posted on
07/18/2013 9:48:26 AM PDT
by
Sopater
To: Sopater
It’s true. I saw the video
2
posted on
07/18/2013 9:50:33 AM PDT
by
AppyPappy
(Obama: What did I not know and when did I not know it?)
To: Sopater
'Comet of the century'LOL! It's kind of early in the century.
3
posted on
07/18/2013 9:51:00 AM PDT
by
Jeff Chandler
(Skiddle-arink a-dink, a-dink, Skiddle-arink a-doo . . .)
To: Sopater
4
posted on
07/18/2013 9:51:06 AM PDT
by
Frapster
(Clear the mechanism)
To: Sopater
Well, give or take a day or two.
You know of course that these dates are only rough estimates.
To: Jeff Chandler
I am hoping that it will be even more impressive that Hale-Bopp. That was one impressive looking comet.
6
posted on
07/18/2013 9:51:59 AM PDT
by
Sopater
(Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? - Matthew 20:15a)
To: Sopater
We have a precise orbit for ISON; and from that orbit we have a very good idea of where it came from and when it did.
The idea that science can say absolutely nothing about the past because something wasn’t witnessed is beyond silly.
To: Frapster
Are you a creationist?
Why do you ask?
My point is that the Oort cloud is merely hypothesized.
8
posted on
07/18/2013 9:54:38 AM PDT
by
Sopater
(Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? - Matthew 20:15a)
To: Sopater
"comet of the century,"
Can anyone say "Kohoutek"?
To: Calvin Locke
Can anyone say "Kohoutek"?
I did a report on Kohoutek in grade school because it was visible in the sky at that time... or so I'm told. I couldn't see it. ;-)
10
posted on
07/18/2013 9:59:44 AM PDT
by
Sopater
(Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? - Matthew 20:15a)
To: All
It’s in revelations people!
(Technical difficulties - Please stand by)
11
posted on
07/18/2013 10:00:10 AM PDT
by
Preston Manning
(When standing on the edge of a cliff, a "giant step forward" is NOT progress!)
To: Sopater
We can ask Helen Thomas to confirm that. She was about 23 years old back then.
"Helen, communism totally rules doesn't it?"
"You said it Kenyan boy!"
12
posted on
07/18/2013 10:01:51 AM PDT
by
GrandJediMasterYoda
(Someday our schools will teach the difference between "lose" and "loose")
To: Sopater
Speaking of comets of the century... what follows is nothing more than a shameless pimping of a book I wrote. It is available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Smashwords. It begins when a giant meteor strikes the moon. Again, shameless pimping...apologies:
Under a Cloven Moon: Satanta Run
13
posted on
07/18/2013 10:02:51 AM PDT
by
AD from SpringBay
(http://jonah2eight.blogspot.com/)
To: Strategerist
We have a precise orbit for ISON; and from that orbit we have a very good idea of where it came from and when it did.
What about "how"?
14
posted on
07/18/2013 10:03:52 AM PDT
by
Sopater
(Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? - Matthew 20:15a)
To: Sopater
IIRC, Japan and points South had the best views. The Northern Hemisphere, not so much.
To: AD from SpringBay
"Pimpin' ain't easy, but it's necessary..."
16
posted on
07/18/2013 10:06:43 AM PDT
by
EEGator
To: Sopater
I am hoping that it will be even more impressive that Hale-Bopp. Ahh...memories. I remember watching it with a cheap Tasco telescope out the second floor window of our first house with my then 6 year old son.
He was enthralled. It got him hooked on science and astronomy for life. He's 2 years out of college now and we have some lively discussions about cosmology and theoretical physics when he visits.
17
posted on
07/18/2013 10:07:01 AM PDT
by
Bloody Sam Roberts
(Anywhere there is tyranny you will find that the people were first disarmed.)
To: Sopater
Time to get some new Nikes.
To: Sopater
19
posted on
07/18/2013 10:11:32 AM PDT
by
dfwgator
To: Bloody Sam Roberts
my son and daughter watched as well - we printed out celestial sky charts and drew the comet in accordingly - we them made detailed notes about its brightness etc....it was quite spectacular - weve fortunately saved all of it - so we’ll just add to the book now
20
posted on
07/18/2013 10:15:25 AM PDT
by
Revelation 911
(hump scratching n'er do well.....all strung out on chicken wings and venison jerky)
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