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Astronomy Picture of the Day - Periodic Comet Swift-Tuttle
NASA ^ | 8 Aug, 2024 | Image Credit & Copyright: Gerald Rhemann

Posted on 08/08/2024 1:57:30 PM PDT by MtnClimber

Explanation: A Halley-type comet with an orbital period of about 133 years, Comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle is recognized as the parent of the annual Perseid Meteor Shower. The comet's last visit to the inner Solar System was in 1992. Then, it did not become easily visible to the naked eye, but it did become bright enough to see from most locations with binoculars and small telescopes. This stunning color image of Swift-Tuttle's greenish coma, long ion tail and dust tail was recorded using film on November 24, 1992. That was about 16 days after the large periodic comet's closest approach to Earth. Comet Swift-Tuttle is expected to next make an impressive appearance in night skies in 2126. Meanwhile, dusty cometary debris left along the orbit of Swift-Tuttle will continue to be swept up creating planet Earth's best-known July and August meteor shower.


TOPICS: Astronomy; Astronomy Picture of the Day; Science
KEYWORDS: apod; astronomy; catastrophism; comet109p; nasa; perseids; swifttuttle
To be added or removed from the Astronomy Picture of the Day ping list please send me a request via "Private Reply" (Mail).

For more detail go to the link and click on the image for a high definition image. You can then move the magnifying glass cursor then click to zoom in and click again to zoom out. When zoomed in you can scan by moving the side bars on the bottom and right side of the image.

1 posted on 08/08/2024 1:57:30 PM PDT by MtnClimber
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To: MtnClimber

2 posted on 08/08/2024 1:57:57 PM PDT by MtnClimber (For photos of scenery and wildlife, click on my screen name for my FR home page. More photos added.)
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To: 21stCenturion; 21twelve; 4everontheRight; abb; AFB-XYZ; AFPhys; Agatsu77; America_Right; ...
Pinging the APOD list

🪐 🌟 🌌 🍔


3 posted on 08/08/2024 1:58:38 PM PDT by MtnClimber (For photos of scenery and wildlife, click on my screen name for my FR home page. More photos added.)
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To: MtnClimber
It's been 133 years since 1992 already? Oh Boy, time really flies. I remember it like yesterday.

4 posted on 08/08/2024 2:02:23 PM PDT by BitWielder1 (I'd rather have Unequal Wealth than Equal Poverty.)
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To: MtnClimber

God’s playing marbles again.


5 posted on 08/08/2024 2:08:35 PM PDT by AFB-XYZ (Two options: 1) Stand up, or 2) Bend over)
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To: AFB-XYZ

6 posted on 08/08/2024 2:32:39 PM PDT by Vaquero (In Don't pick a fight with an old guy. If he is too old to fight, he'll just kill you. )
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To: MtnClimber
The Perseids meteor shower, also called the "tears of St. Lawrence", is associated with the comet Swift-Tuttle.

When Lawrence was asked turn over the money in his care, he presented the poor suffering people of his town, proclaiming them as the true treasure. The Romans were not amused and grilled him to death.

7 posted on 08/08/2024 2:37:05 PM PDT by Nateman (Democrats did not strive for fraud friendly voting merely to continue honest elections.)
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To: MtnClimber

Wow.


8 posted on 08/08/2024 2:47:25 PM PDT by No name given ( Anonymous is who you’ll know me as)
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To: MtnClimber

I consider myself very lucky to have seen so many comets and three solar eclipses. God’s creation never ceases to impress. I am even impressed how a simple little seed I put in my herb garden can grow in to a bush I can eat or how some little bird lays an egg that turns in to another little bird.


9 posted on 08/08/2024 3:13:18 PM PDT by Organic Panic (Democrats. Memories as short as Joe Biden's eyes)
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To: MtnClimber

Swift-Tuttle has an orbit which goes pretty close to Earth orbit. This animation shows how close it will get in 2126. If it did hit Earth it would be a Civilization ending event because it is 16 miles in diameter. Also notice it is a head on collision . Relative to the Sun the Earth moves at 18 miles a second and the Comet at that point is moving 24 miles a second.

The Asteroid that killed the Dinosaurs was 6 miles in diameter.

10 posted on 08/08/2024 3:16:59 PM PDT by Nateman (Democrats did not strive for fraud friendly voting merely to continue honest elections.)
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To: Organic Panic

There was a bright comet that passed very close to Polaris, the Celestial North pole. What made it extra amazing was because of that it was like a giant hour hand on a clock as big as the night sky . That was the ultimate in Comet watching for me!


11 posted on 08/08/2024 3:51:48 PM PDT by Nateman (Democrats did not strive for fraud friendly voting merely to continue honest elections.)
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To: Vaquero

**When SNL was funny*

What the Hell is THAT?
What the Hell IS that?
Who the Hell put that thing there?
What the Hell IS that?


12 posted on 08/08/2024 4:12:30 PM PDT by MS.BEHAVIN (Women who behave rarely make history.)
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To: Nateman

Akuma matada....


13 posted on 08/08/2024 4:23:09 PM PDT by Organic Panic (Democrats. Memories as short as Joe Biden's eyes)
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To: Organic Panic

Hakuna Masada


14 posted on 08/08/2024 4:47:47 PM PDT by Nifster ( I see puppy dogs in the clouds )
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To: Nifster

Masada.... so very Jewish and a reflection of their spirits...

But WTF. They still vote democrat?..


15 posted on 08/08/2024 7:27:44 PM PDT by Organic Panic (Democrats. Memories as short as Joe Biden's eyes)
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To: MtnClimber

I am looking forward to seeing it in 2126! ;-)

** snicker **


16 posted on 08/08/2024 8:01:26 PM PDT by spel_grammer_an_punct_polise (We are very sorry, Mr. Franklin. We were not able to keep it! ;-()
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17 posted on 08/09/2024 4:36:52 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (Putin should skip ahead to where he kills himself in the bunker.)
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To: 75thOVI; Abathar; agrace; aimhigh; Alice in Wonderland; AnalogReigns; AndrewC; aragorn; ...



18 posted on 08/09/2024 4:39:43 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (Putin should skip ahead to where he kills himself in the bunker.)
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