Posted on 12/07/2019 7:46:46 PM PST by BenLurkin
Astronomers have captured the best and closest image to date of interstellar comet 2I/Borisov, a visitor that originated from outside of our solar system and is currently passing through.
On Sunday, the comet will pass within 190 million miles of Earth on its closest approach before continuing on through our solar system. As it gets closer to Earth, the icy comet is shedding more gas and dust through its tail through evaporation.
Astronomers at Yale University used the W.M. Keck Observatory's Low-Resolution Imaging Spectrometer, located in Hawaii, to provide the closest look at the interstellar comet since it was first observed over the summer.
The new photo reveals the comet's impressive tail, which extends for nearly 100,000 miles. That's 14 times the size of Earth, according to the researchers at Yale. "It's humbling to realize how small Earth is next to this visitor from another solar system," said Pieter van Dokkum, a Yale astronomer.
Scientists think the comet originated in another star system but was kicked out after a near-miss with a planet.
Since first observing the comet, astronomers are learning new details. Outside of its hyperbolic orbit, the comet is very similar to those we find in our own solar system.
"The object will peak in brightness in mid-December and continue to be observable with moderate-size telescopes until April 2020,"
Future observations will shed more light on its size, rotation and path.
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
190 million miles is more than twice the distance from the earth to the sun.
Probably a dreamer comet. We need walls to keep this kind out. If he was deported from the other solar system then he’s probably not our type either.
I’ll have to take a look tomorrow night.
Close is relative.
“...the comet will pass within 190 million miles of Earth on its closest approach...”
Love the snarking.
You do realize this thing is coming from another star, right?
Was Hunter Biden involved with Borisov?
I’ve learned the distance between the sun and Earth to be 93 million miles, but what’s 3 million miles between FRiends. :)
Yep. Beyond Mars’ orbit.
*ping*
https://www.space.com/interstellar-comet-borisov-officially-from-beyond-solar-system.html
It’s only visible from the southern hemisphere.
“Here’s a phrase that apparently the airlines simply made up: near miss. They say that if 2 planes almost collide, it’s a near miss. Bullsh!t, my friend. It’s a near hit! A collision is a near miss.
[WHAM! CRUNCH!]
“Look, they nearly missed!”
“Yes, but not quite.”
George Carlin
No one has any real clue where this, or anything else for that matter, comes from.
ML/NJ
All kinds of crap ‘passes close.’ Let me know when something is gonna hit NYC or Los Angeles.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.