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An interstellar comet looks to be heading our way
cnet ^ | September 11, 2019 | Eric Mack

Posted on 09/11/2019 5:58:09 PM PDT by BenLurkin

A comet first spotted by a Ukrainian amateur astronomer looks to be just the second known object to visit our cosmic neighborhood from beyond the solar system. What could be an even bigger deal is that this one was discovered as it's still approaching us.

The comet was found by Gennady Borisov of Crimea on Aug. 30, and went by the temporary name GB00234 until very recently. After being watched by several other observatories over the past few weeks, it was given the official name of C/2019 Q4 (Borisov) by the Minor Planet Center on Wednesday.

It appeared to follow a so-called hyperbolic trajectory, which means it doesn't orbit the sun and probably originates from far beyond our solar system.

This comet is still inbound, and won't reach perihelion (its closest pass by the sun) until Dec. 10.

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


TOPICS: Astronomy; Science
KEYWORDS: 201912; 20191210; 2iborisov; astronomy; borisov; c2019q4; c2019q4borisov; carbon; catastrophism; comet; comet2iborisov; comets; cyanide; gb00234; gennadyborisov; hyperbolic; interstellar; nitrogen; oumuamua; oumuamuake; pastronomy; science; starshiptroopers; ukraine; ukrainian; xplanets
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1 posted on 09/11/2019 5:58:09 PM PDT by BenLurkin
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To: BenLurkin

Ukrainian?

I thought Crimea was part of Russia now?


2 posted on 09/11/2019 6:00:18 PM PDT by Alas Babylon! (The media is after us. Trump's just in the way.)
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To: BenLurkin

AOC — “It’s bringing interstellar diseases! This is a crisis. We must STOP Global Warming.”


3 posted on 09/11/2019 6:00:33 PM PDT by ProtectOurFreedom
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To: BenLurkin

It has been my object in life to rule over The Minor Planet Center. So far not so good.


4 posted on 09/11/2019 6:02:12 PM PDT by Fester Chugabrew
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To: BenLurkin

Wow. Could these interstellar commets be more common than we think? It would be great if we could send a probe to intercept it and send back data.


5 posted on 09/11/2019 6:02:43 PM PDT by Wilhelm Tell (True or False? This is not a tag line.)
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Comment #6 Removed by Moderator

To: BenLurkin

Anyone know how close it will pass Earth?


7 posted on 09/11/2019 6:06:07 PM PDT by BroJoeK ((a little historical perspective...))
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To: BenLurkin

Quick! Send up some oilfield trash!


8 posted on 09/11/2019 6:08:08 PM PDT by MuttTheHoople
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To: BenLurkin

CNN declares doomsday and blames the comet on Trump. Bernie Sanders declares that true socialism would repel comets and asks for the Russians to help deflect the comet.


9 posted on 09/11/2019 6:08:55 PM PDT by The Great RJ ("Socialists are happy until they run out of other people's money." Margaret Thatcher)
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To: BroJoeK

10 posted on 09/11/2019 6:09:48 PM PDT by BenLurkin (The above is not a statement of fact. It is either opinion or satire. Or both.)
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To: BenLurkin

11 posted on 09/11/2019 6:10:40 PM PDT by bankwalker (Immigration without assimilation is an invasion.)
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To: BenLurkin

This thread is getting angry. Someone needs to comet down!


12 posted on 09/11/2019 6:13:42 PM PDT by TigersEye (This is the age of the death of reason.)
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To: bankwalker

Such a great book. I miss Jerry’s “blog”. He called it a daybook, hated the word blog, and it predated the word.


13 posted on 09/11/2019 6:16:35 PM PDT by FreedomPoster (Islam delenda est)
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To: BenLurkin

First it was Ummagumma now it’s Goober. What next?


14 posted on 09/11/2019 6:18:31 PM PDT by fruser1
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To: BenLurkin

Is it going to hit us?


15 posted on 09/11/2019 6:19:36 PM PDT by tellw (ed)
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To: BenLurkin
If Borisov discovered it why doesnt HE get to name it Borisov's Comet?

Not like it's going to come back around.

16 posted on 09/11/2019 6:19:40 PM PDT by Centurion2000 (Coming in from the cold .... been a LONG while.)
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To: Centurion2000

Oops


17 posted on 09/11/2019 6:21:10 PM PDT by Centurion2000 (Read ... THEN comment.)
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To: BenLurkin

Night of the Comet


18 posted on 09/11/2019 6:21:46 PM PDT by Secret Agent Man (Gone Galt; Not Averse to Going Bronson.)
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To: FreedomPoster

it is my second favorite book of all time ...


19 posted on 09/11/2019 6:23:21 PM PDT by bankwalker (Immigration without assimilation is an invasion.)
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To: fruser1
First it was Ummagumma now it’s Goober. What next?

Dark Side of the Moon?

20 posted on 09/11/2019 6:25:17 PM PDT by libertylover (Democrats hated Lincoln too.)
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