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'Comet of the century' nears Earth
Fox News ^ | July 18, 2013 | Megan Gannon

Posted on 07/18/2013 9:48:26 AM PDT by Sopater

About 10,000 years ago, Comet ISON left our solar system's distant shell, a region known as the Oort cloud, and began streaking toward the sun. This November, the icy wanderer will reach the climax of its journey, potentially providing a stunning skywatching show here on Earth.

Comet ISON was discovered just last September by two Russian amateur astronomers. Scientists have since recognized ISON as a possible "comet of the century," but to live up to its promise, it will have to survive its dangerous perihelion, or closest approach to the sun.

ISON is what's known as a sungrazing comet. These suicidal objects have orbits that bring them within 850,000 miles of the sun, and scientists estimate that ISON's closest pass will be about 730,000 miles above the surface of Earth's star.

(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...


TOPICS: Astronomy
KEYWORDS: 2012s1; comet; comet2012s1; cometison; greencomet; ison; science; space
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To: Calvin Locke

>> Can anyone say “Kohoutek”? <<

No, I’m too young so that I’ve only seen it in print. Is it Kah-hu-tek or Ka-how-tek, or KOE-ha-tek?


21 posted on 07/18/2013 10:20:50 AM PDT by dangus (Poverty cannot be eradicated as long as the poor remain dependent on the state - Pope Francis)
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To: Sopater

Hale Bopp. PBTTTT.
I want to see a tail, not just a fuzzy dot.


22 posted on 07/18/2013 10:22:35 AM PDT by dangus (Poverty cannot be eradicated as long as the poor remain dependent on the state - Pope Francis)
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To: dangus

PBTTTT?


23 posted on 07/18/2013 10:23:25 AM PDT by Sopater (Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? - Matthew 20:15a)
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To: dangus

I heard it as Kah ho tek


24 posted on 07/18/2013 10:23:44 AM PDT by Renegade
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To: Sopater

That’s the chemical compound that gives raspberries their unique odor.


25 posted on 07/18/2013 10:24:38 AM PDT by dangus (Poverty cannot be eradicated as long as the poor remain dependent on the state - Pope Francis)
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To: Calvin Locke
Can anyone say "Kohoutek"?

Or how about Halley's Comet, which I thought would put on a spectacular show when it arrived in 1975. Instead, it looked like just another star.

26 posted on 07/18/2013 10:24:41 AM PDT by Fiji Hill
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To: GrandJediMasterYoda
Helen Thomas's father
27 posted on 07/18/2013 10:25:07 AM PDT by Darteaus94025
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To: Sopater

“...when the comet runs” . . . The Seer Naustradamus foretold of the great war that would follow the appearance of the great comet. And as war reigns in Syria, Damascus shall cease to exist - and the great war shall begin...

oh woo is he who shall stand beneath the comet’s shadow on that horrible day. For then shall end the dominance of man and begin the second rule of demons. Fortunately, that will not last long.


28 posted on 07/18/2013 10:38:19 AM PDT by Deathtomarxists (hillary's cankles smiled at me)
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To: Sopater
I am hoping that it will be even more impressive that Hale-Bopp.

One can only hope wonder how many more looney-tune New Age hope 'n changers will decide to 'jump on board' Heavens Gate-style.

29 posted on 07/18/2013 10:39:56 AM PDT by Noumenon (What would Michael Collins do?)
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To: dangus
PBTTTT?

That’s the chemical compound that gives raspberries their unique odor.


Oh, Okay....


30 posted on 07/18/2013 10:42:10 AM PDT by Sopater (Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? - Matthew 20:15a)
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To: dangus
Don't know. Kohoutek is the [last] name of the Czech discoverer.

From memory, Kah/KOE-hu-tek, depending on which anchor/reporter/guest astronomer was on the tube back then.

31 posted on 07/18/2013 10:44:56 AM PDT by Calvin Locke
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To: Calvin Locke; Sopater
Can anyone say "Kohoutek"?

The music it inspired was more interesting than the comet itself.

This was their first album, pre-Steve Perry (a.k.a. Shrieking Vocalist).

32 posted on 07/18/2013 10:48:06 AM PDT by Disambiguator
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To: Sopater

No, I was kidding. It’s how you spell the noise made by a “raspberry.”


33 posted on 07/18/2013 10:48:47 AM PDT by dangus (Poverty cannot be eradicated as long as the poor remain dependent on the state - Pope Francis)
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To: Fiji Hill

1975? Try 1986. It did breath new life into the telescope market for a while.


34 posted on 07/18/2013 10:53:08 AM PDT by Calvin Locke
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To: Disambiguator

Bad Link.


35 posted on 07/18/2013 11:03:14 AM PDT by Calvin Locke
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To: Sopater
Comet Hyakutake was a better view, because it was closer. I watched it every night for nearly a month as it flew by the Earth. Hale-Bopp was smaller and brighter, but also closer to the horizon.

-PJ

36 posted on 07/18/2013 11:03:31 AM PDT by Political Junkie Too (If you are the Posterity of We the People, then you are a Natural Born Citizen.)
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To: Sopater

Hale-Bop was pretty cool

I had to drive far away from the city, because when I looked up (at my house) I saw nothing

I was expecting a small splotch of light with a tail- it was like 1/4 OF THE SKY!! at least 5 times the width of the full moon


37 posted on 07/18/2013 11:03:38 AM PDT by Mr. K (There are lies, damned lies, statistics, and democrat talking points.)
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To: dangus
Hardly a "fuzzy dot".

For what it's worth, if predictions are accurate, no living person will have seen as bright a comet. I'm pretty excited.

38 posted on 07/18/2013 11:04:16 AM PDT by stormer
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To: Sopater

Just curious.


39 posted on 07/18/2013 11:06:32 AM PDT by Frapster (Clear the mechanism)
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To: Mr. K

I used a Russian-surplus light-intensifying scope, out in the country, and found I didn’t need it, but it did expand the apparent size to more like 1/3 the sky (IIRC).


40 posted on 07/18/2013 11:13:22 AM PDT by steve86 (Acerbic by Nature, not Nurture™)
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