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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: Sopater
Comets are said to portend significant events for humanity.

What does this one supposedly bring?

41 posted on 07/18/2013 11:22:13 AM PDT by GBA (Our obamanation: Romans 1:18-32)
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To: dangus

I saw a nice tail on Hale-Bopp. I was in Wyoming at the time.


42 posted on 07/18/2013 11:24:16 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: stormer

that’s the Hale-Bopp I remember seeing.


43 posted on 07/18/2013 11:25:42 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: Frapster

Yes, but as I said, my point was how the article stated that ISON left the Oort cloud about 10,000 years ago as if it is a known fact when the Oort cloud isn’t even a known fact.


44 posted on 07/18/2013 11:27:43 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: Calvin Locke

Better Kahoutek than Hamner-Brown.


45 posted on 07/18/2013 11:28:49 AM PDT by Black Agnes
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To: steve86

I may be confused about which comet that was. Went out for all of them.


46 posted on 07/18/2013 11:30:38 AM PDT by steve86 (Acerbic by Nature, not Nurture™)
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To: GBA

Comet are said to portend significant events for humanity by superstitious morons whose understanding of the universe is limited by their incurious ignorance.


47 posted on 07/18/2013 11:38:54 AM PDT by stormer
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To: GBA
Comets are said to portend significant events for humanity.

What does this one supposedly bring?


How in the world am I supposed to know? I just want to gawk and something cool in the sky.
48 posted on 07/18/2013 11:50:30 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: Sopater

Notice the matter-of-fact way they state that the comet came from the Oort cloud,

which is a HYPOTHETICAL “rescuing device” to explain the existence of short period comets in an “old” solar system.

Never been seen or measured, but it HAS to be there, given the assumption of billions of years.


49 posted on 07/18/2013 11:52:45 AM PDT by MrB (The difference between a Humanist and a Satanist - the latter admits whom he's working for)
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To: AD from SpringBay

bookmark


50 posted on 07/18/2013 11:57:44 AM PDT by Sergio (An object at rest cannot be stopped! - The Evil Midnight Bomber What Bombs at Midnight)
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To: MrB
Notice the matter-of-fact way they state that the comet came from the Oort cloud, which is a HYPOTHETICAL “rescuing device” to explain the existence of short period comets in an “old” solar system. Never been seen or measured, but it HAS to be there, given the assumption of billions of years.

Oh, I noticed... hence my response of "allegedly". Both science and journalism have gone off the rails.
51 posted on 07/18/2013 11:59:49 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: Jeff Chandler
Comet ISON was discovered just last September

It has to be the comet of the century - we have known about it for almost a year now!

52 posted on 07/18/2013 12:03:31 PM PDT by LearnsFromMistakes (Yes, I am happy to see you. But that IS a gun in my pocket.)
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To: Sopater

That makes sense. Thanks!


53 posted on 07/18/2013 12:07:41 PM PDT by Frapster (Clear the mechanism)
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To: Deathtomarxists
oh woo is he who shall stand beneath the comet’s shadow

Woo?

Woot? Woohoo? Poo?

54 posted on 07/18/2013 12:07:51 PM PDT by RegulatorCountry
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To: Sopater

Hopefully it’s Obama’s band wagon, and all his followers will jump on and leave earth.


55 posted on 07/18/2013 12:10:32 PM PDT by chemicalman (The more support I see,the harder I want to work,and the more determined I am not to let folks down.)
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To: Frapster

Which are you, a creationist, evolutionist, or undecided?


56 posted on 07/18/2013 12:11:16 PM 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: Sopater

Whats wrong with you??? I saw it in broad daylight just like they said we could. It was almost as bright as the sun and cast shadows at night. What rock were you living under???

(/s)


57 posted on 07/18/2013 12:13:47 PM PDT by Mom MD (A million people attended Obamas inauguration. 14 of them actually missed work)
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To: dangus

Ka who tek. Remember it well!


58 posted on 07/18/2013 12:15:34 PM PDT by Mom MD (A million people attended Obamas inauguration. 14 of them actually missed work)
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To: Black Agnes
Better Kahoutek than Hamner-Brown.

I am just glad it wasn't thrown at us by elephant-like aliens...

59 posted on 07/18/2013 12:17:29 PM PDT by Crusher138 ("Then conquer we must, for our cause it is just")
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To: Sopater

Hale-Bopp provided a lifetime event for me in Eastern Colorado. It was fantastic! Few Comets live up to their hype; HB outdid the press.


60 posted on 07/18/2013 12:18:24 PM PDT by Loud Mime (Liberal: A person who charges their grandchildren for today's party)
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