Comet Returns After 37,000 Years

BBC ^ | 2-19-2003

[blam]

Comet returns after 37,000 years

The comet (right) approaches the Sun

A recently-discovered comet makes its closest approach to the Sun. Moments later, it seems to be struck by a super-hot outburst of gas from the star.

This spectacular image was spotted on Tuesday by a spacecraft, the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (Soho).

The joint European Space Agency/Nasa satellite is designed to give warnings of stormy space weather that might affect the Earth.

Soho has photographed hundreds of comets around the Sun but this one, known as Neat, has only just been seen.

It has been hovering in the evening sky for the past few weeks but is hardly visible without a telescope.

Ancient visitor

The comet, which goes by the official name C/2002 V1, is new to astronomers.

The comet is putting on a spectacular show Calculations show it has passed through the inner Solar System once before but this was 37, 000 years ago.

The comet is unusual in that it is very large and very bright. In fact it is the brightest comet ever observed by one of Soho's instruments.

Scientists are studying its interaction with the solar wind - the hot, charged particles flowing from the Sun.

They hope it could reveal new information about what comets are made of.

[blam]

This comet is the size of Jupiter. Could this thing cause problems on earth? (volcanos/earthquakes?)

[blam]

Check in with your comments please.

[foolscap]

OH NO, IT'S PLANET X!!!

[Redcloak]

This comet is the size of Jupiter.

Uh... No. I don't think so. If that were the case, the Earth would no longer be in its orbit.

[First_Salute]

Maybe bigger; it's enormous.

[Redcloak]

Really hugh?

[blam]

[Nick Thimmesch]

Thank Gawd: now I can pee............

[blam]

"Uh... No. I don't think so. If that were the case, the Earth would no longer be in its orbit."

I thought I'd read that somewhere, maybe not.(?)

[LibWhacker]

I think the coma IS the size of Jupiter.

[RobRoy]

I'd love to hear some Real Gas Music from Jupiter!

[Shermy]

?

[Redcloak]

There is a purple spot just behind the comet. No... Never mind. That's a fingerprint on my monitor.

[Redcloak]

That sounds more likely.

[RobRoy]

Are the wings for when it is traveling through a planets atmosphere, for better control?

Also, I thought the tail would always extend directly out from the solar side of the comet. That's sure not what's happening in this photo. It must be a composite.

[DCBryan1]

Two words:

Lucifer's Hammer
By Purnell/Niven

[Timm]

I'm kind of busy this week. I'll catch this thing the next time it comes by.

[Shermy]

LOL! But seriously...what's the horizontal straight line poking out from behind the comet's head...edge-view of a flying saucer?

[RandyRep]

I think that the tail of the comet appears to be non-radial because we have a two dimensional view of a three dimensional problem. The Earth is on the ecliptic plane, and the comet is above the plane. I don't know (but perhaps others do) what the direction of the comet is - it could be coming at us, going away from us, heading downward, heading upward, heading some other direction, etc.

Does anyone know if this can be seen - after sunset, or before sunrise?

[blam]

Two words:

Lucifer's Hammer
By Purnell/Niven