Posted on 11/21/2019 7:35:30 PM PST by MtnClimber
From the tallest peak in Hawaii to a high plateau in the Andes, some of the biggest telescopes on Earth will point towards a faint smudge of light over the next few weeks. The same patch of sky will draw the attention of Gennady Borisov, an amateur astronomer in Crimea, and many other hobbyists who will sacrifice proper sleep and doze through their day jobs rather than miss this golden opportunity.
What they’re looking for is a rare visitor that is about to make its closest approach to the Sun. After that, they have just months to grab as much information as they can from the object before it disappears forever into the blackness of space.
This chunk of rock and ice started its journey many light years from Earth, millions of years ago. The object got kicked out of its own neighbourhood by a violent gravitational push — maybe from a nearby planet, maybe from a passing star. Since then, it has been adrift in the space between the stars, eventually heading in our direction.
On 30 August, Borisov spotted the object in the predawn sky — it was glowing dimly, with a broad stubby tail. Later named Comet 2I/Borisov after its discoverer, it captured global attention because it’s only the second object — aside from exotic dust particles — ever known to have entered our Solar System from interstellar space. “This is my eighth comet, and so amazing,” says Borisov, who adds that it was “great luck that I got such a unique object”.
It is remarkably different from the first interstellar interloper, which was a small, dark, rocky-looking object named 1I/‘Oumuamua that whizzed past the Sun in 2017.
(Excerpt) Read more at nature.com ...
I bet these occur more often than previously thought.
“I bet these occur more often than previously thought.”
Considering we’ve only had the crudest means to look for the last 100 years or so I’d say you’re right.
L
Do you think the trip was made here to land on Hillary’s head?
*ping*
Maybe it is a warning shot from a civilization far away that is annoyed at the democrat debates.
Uh huh, and life just magically sprang from inert matter, and our ancestors lived in caves. /s
You might be thinking of Maxwell’s Silver Hammer.
I think you've GOT it.
GOOD ONE!
I don't know what that is.
Sharpton says “Resist we much the interlopers”.
If I was here, I’d be more worried about a house falling on her head and losing her red slippers.
Look it up.
The Almighty is throwing little rocks at our window. Perhaps he is standing down on the lawn with a boom box.
Did somebody mention a hammer?
I read that a long time ago!
An incredible accomplishment for an amateur astronomer.
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