Posted on 03/18/2016 9:33:28 PM PDT by BenLurkin
Two comets will zoom by Earth next week within a couple million miles — a close shave, astronomically speaking — and many astronomers hope the double fly-by will tell them whether the celestial bodies were once one.
At 8:14 a.m. Monday, comet 252P/LINEAR will pass within 3.3 million miles of Earth, making it the fifth-closest comet to skim by our planet.
Then at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, comet P/2016 BA14 will pass within 2.1 million miles — the third-closest comet since 1770, according to NASA officials.
...
“It could be by some amazing coincidence that we are wrong, but my best guess is these two have to be related,” Kelley told the Herald.
Kelley has booked the Hubble Space Telescope for nine hours to observe 252P as it zooms by.
...
These close passes are “rare and unusual,” astronomers said, supporting the idea the two had split at some point — a common occurrence for comets. 252P was discovered by MIT astronomers in 2000, while BA14 was first spotted from the Hawaiian observatory Pan-STARRS.
Paul Chodas, manager at NASA’s Center for Near-Earth Objects, said, “We know comets are relatively fragile things. ... During a previous pass through the inner-solar system, or during a distant fly-by of Jupiter, a chunk that we now know of as BA14 might have broken off of 252P.”
(Excerpt) Read more at bostonherald.com ...
What would our world be like if several thousand years ago an astronomer calculated that the orbit of a comet would cause a direct collision in the future? Our calendar would be a countdown of years so year 8 would mean eight years until the end of the world.
NO, No, remember it is all Trumps fault, then Bush’s fault. Get it right bud! Sarc.
There is also a luner eclipse of the blood moon the same day. Nobody notices that.
I know nothing about the subject and you seem to know a great deal. Any knowledge you can share is greatly appreciated. Thanks, "grania"
I think I saw you in an ice cream parlor
Drinking milk shakes cold and long
Will we be able to see Uranus?
I certainly hope not, Ollie.
No, I know next to nothing.
Famously, comets can exhibit non-Newtonian motion when in the inner Solar System (due to heating). I.e., the eruption of geysirs / gas jets and other violent reactions can alter their otherwise Newtonian trajectories. But I don't believe that a significant alteration of their courses within only the next few weeks should be expected - at least, nothing of the order of magnitude that would be necessary to put them on a collision course with Earth, if that's your worry.
Regards,
Looks like there’s a very minor penumbral lunar eclipse the day after - during the Fast of Esther. Interesting as the moon is likened to the Jewish People and lunar eclipses are “messages” for them.
I expect there will be 2 or 3 significant events next week.
Okay, I'm not going to worry about them. Get back to me when they find one that will pass within 75 feet of the Earth.
Thanks fieldmarshaldj.I've been doing a little virtual housekeeping, and here's the recently added topics for the Catastrophism keyword, sorted chrono, because a good many of them are oldy-moldies from the FRchives:
Daddy would have gotten us Uzis...
Brussels airport, Brussels metro station.
You called it but I dont think we are done.
Agreed.
The next four days and mid to late April are of note here.
I hear ya and now why. Later
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