Posted on 10/17/2013 8:01:30 PM PDT by BenLurkin
NASA explains:
In this NASA Hubble Space Telescope image taken on October 9, the comet’s solid nucleus is unresolved because it is so small. If the nucleus broke apart then Hubble would have likely seen evidence for multiple fragments.
Moreover, the coma or head surrounding the comet’s nucleus is symmetric and smooth. This would probably not be the case if clusters of smaller fragments were flying along. What’s more, a polar jet of dust first seen in Hubble images taken in April is no longer visible and may have turned off.
So, its not disintegrating, its not a three-piece body, its not a UFO… instead Comet ISON is turning out to be a rather average, ordinary comet. How has this comet sparked predictions that have gone from “bright as the full moon” to “disintegrating as we speak,” asked Josh Sokol from the Hubble ISON blog? “Simply put, ISON peaked early. When it was first discovered, way out past Jupiter, ISON was really bright,” Sokol wrote. “Extrapolated, those first data points made ISON look like it would shine even more as it got closer — and when it didn’t, the coverage seesawed back toward calling ISON a total bust.”
(Excerpt) Read more at universetoday.com ...
Bummer. I was looking forward to a comet bright as a fool moon. Obama probably had the Park Service dim the thing so we couldn’t view it during the shut down.
Don’t you listen to them, ISON! You are special! So maybe you aren’t the biggest comet in the universe. You’re still our comet, and that makes you special!
It’s been a while since I looked at Astronomy magazines.
I’ve never hear of the magazine “universe today” before.
Anyone else?
It’s a website.
Sorry I seem to have shut down an (important) discussion about a huge comet about to appear.
(that’s a bit of a tale, but not terribly)
I was simply saying I hadn’t read that site.
Please those who have, speak up. There is possibly a very bright comet about to appear.
I’m all for this discussion.
Thanks BenLurkin, extra to APoD.
I haven’t put much stock into the stories of this being a fantastic comet. If it turns out to be one, I will be pleasantly surprised. If not, I expected no more.
My life philosophy on a lot of things.
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