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Twin comets expected to be seen in April
UPI ^ | 2-25-04

Posted on 02/25/2004 6:10:54 PM PST by Indy Pendance

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Feb. 25 (UPI) -- U.S. astronomers say two relatively bright comets visible to the naked eye will appear in the night skies in April.

The Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics scientists say a naked-eye comet appears about once every two years. However, most remain fairly faint or they appear close to the sun as seen from Earth, requiring binoculars even for experienced observers to spot them.

Rarer still are two naked-eye comets appearing simultaneously that are bright enough to be easily seen.

Beginning late April and continuing through early May, however, amateur stargazers should be able to view both comets, called C/2001 Q4, nicknamed NEAT, and C/2002 T7, called LINEAR.

"If you haven't seen a comet, this is a great opportunity to go out and look at one," said astronomer Dan Green.


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Comet C/2001 Q4 NEAT

Comet C/2002 T7 LINEAR

1 posted on 02/25/2004 6:10:54 PM PST by Indy Pendance
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To: Indy Pendance
I don't have to wait till April, I can see Pam Anderson on the Net right Now!
2 posted on 02/25/2004 6:12:18 PM PST by cmsgop ( HAS ANYONE SEEN Spalding Grey ??)
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To: Indy Pendance
He's back!


3 posted on 02/25/2004 6:13:06 PM PST by South40 (My vote helped defeat cruz bustamante; did yours?)
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Cool (Free!) Astronomy-related Software:
Please FReepmail other suggestions
  • Celestia: (GET THIS ONE! -- m_f) A real-time space simulation that lets you experience our universe in three dimensions. Unlike most planetarium software, Celestia doesn't confine you to the surface of the Earth. You can travel throughout the solar system, to any of over 100,000 stars, or even beyond the galaxy. All travel in Celestia is seamless; the exponential zoom feature lets you explore space across a huge range of scales, from galaxy clusters down to spacecraft only a few meters across. A 'point-and-goto' interface makes it simple to navigate through the universe to the object you want to visit.
  • Sky Screen Saver: Shows the sky above any location on Earth, including stars (from the Yale Bright Star Catalogue of more than 9000 stars to the 7th magnitude), the Moon in its correct phase and position in the sky, and the position of the Sun and all the planets in the sky.
    Outlines, boundaries, and names of constellations can be displayed, as well as names and Bayer/Flamsteed designations of stars brighter than a given threshold. A database of more than 500 deep-sky objects, including all the Messier objects and bright NGC objects can be plotted to a given magnitude. The ecliptic and celestial equator can be plotted, complete with co-ordinates.
  • Home Planet: A comprehensive astronomy / space / satellite-tracking package for Microsoft Windows 95/98/Me and Windows NT 4.0/2000/XP and above. Selected features:
    • An earth map, showing day and night regions, location of the Moon and current phase, and position of a selected earth satellite. Earth maps can be customised and extended.Hposition and phase data for the Sun and Moon.
    • Panel showing positions of planets and a selected asteroid or comet, both geocentric and from the observer's location.
    • A sky map, based on either the Yale Bright Star Catalogue or the 256,000 star SAO catalogue, including rendering of spectral types, planets, earth satellites, asteroids and comets.
    • Databases of the orbital elements of 5632 asteroids and principal periodic comets are included, allowing selection of any for tracking.
    • A telescope window which can be aimed by clicking in the sky map or telescope itself, by entering coordinates, or by selecting an object in the Object Catalogue.
    • A horizon window which shows the view toward the horizon at any given azimuth.
    • Object Catalogue allows archiving images, sounds, and tabular data about celestial objects.
    • Orrery allows viewing the solar system, including a selected asteroid or comet, from any vantage point in space, in a variety of projections.
    • Satellite tracking panel. Select an Earth satellite from a database of two-line elements, and see its current position and altitude.
    • View Earth From panel allows you to view a texture-mapped image of the Earth as seen from the Sun, Moon, a selected Earth satellite, above the observing location, or the antisolar point.
    • Satellite database selection allows maintenance of multiple lists of satellites, for example TV broadcast, ham radio, low orbit, etc.
  • SETI@Home: A scientific experiment that uses Internet-connected computers in the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI). You can participate by running a free program that downloads and analyzes radio telescope data.

4 posted on 02/25/2004 6:13:53 PM PST by martin_fierro (THERE IS NUTHIN' LIKE A DAME)
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To: Indy Pendance
I hope I'll be able to see it. The light polution here is bad.
5 posted on 02/25/2004 6:14:39 PM PST by BykrBayb (Temporary tagline. Applied to State of New Jersey for permanent tagline (12/24/03).)
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To: Indy Pendance
" two relatively bright comets visible to the naked eye will appear in the night skies in April."

It's stuff like this that feeds into people's beliefs that the "end times" are nigh.

6 posted on 02/25/2004 6:15:59 PM PST by billorites (freepo ergo sum)
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To: sauropod
read later
7 posted on 02/25/2004 6:17:07 PM PST by sauropod (I'm Happy, You're Happy, We're ALL Happy! I'm happier than a pig in excrement. Can't you just tell?)
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To: martin_fierro
You might like this one as well:

http://www.stargazing.net/astropc/
8 posted on 02/25/2004 6:17:07 PM PST by RadioAstronomer
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To: RadioAstronomer
Ooh, I have that one already, but forgot to add it to the list.

Thanks!
9 posted on 02/25/2004 6:18:39 PM PST by martin_fierro (THERE IS NUTHIN' LIKE A DAME)
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To: martin_fierro; BykrBayb
# Sky Screen Saver: Shows the sky above any location on Earth, including stars

I live in (near) Seattle. I don't know what stars are anymore. This sounds great!

10 posted on 02/25/2004 6:21:15 PM PST by Eala (Sacrificing tagline fame for... TRAD ANGLICAN RESOURCE PAGE: http://eala.freeservers.com/anglican)
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To: Eala
It's those small light thingys that you see in the night sky when you travel somewhere else :>)
11 posted on 02/25/2004 6:24:25 PM PST by irishtenor ("Trying is the first step toward failure." - Homer Simpson)
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To: Eala
The screen saver is very nice (using it now), but definitely check out Celestia. Stunning!
12 posted on 02/25/2004 6:29:03 PM PST by martin_fierro (THERE IS NUTHIN' LIKE A DAME)
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To: Indy Pendance
Rarer still are two naked-eye comets appearing simultaneously that are bright enough to be easily seen.

So when was the last time ?


13 posted on 02/25/2004 6:32:33 PM PST by Truth666
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To: billorites
"It's stuff like this that feeds into people's beliefs that the "end times" are nigh."

Why do you think people have a fear of comets, they don't seem dangerous.

14 posted on 02/25/2004 6:36:02 PM PST by blam
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To: Indy Pendance
Saw T7 this last week. It already has a nice tail. Get your binoculars ready for a treat! Remember one of them is going to be a Morning Comet. The other an Evening. (I can't remember which. I hope to take some pictures also, Will post what I get!
15 posted on 02/25/2004 6:38:38 PM PST by Conan the Librarian (I am a Librarian. I don't know anything....I just know where to look it up.)
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To: billorites
Here's why. A collective memory?

Did Asteroids And Comets Turn The Tides Of Civilizations

16 posted on 02/25/2004 6:38:40 PM PST by blam
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To: Indy Pendance
Won't be visible here.

-Vicarious Astronomer

17 posted on 02/25/2004 6:44:33 PM PST by RightWhale (Theorems link concepts; proofs establish links)
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To: blam
do you think people have a fear of comets, they don't seem dangerous.

"Kick his butt Santa."


18 posted on 02/25/2004 6:47:10 PM PST by billorites (freepo ergo sum)
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To: irishtenor
It's those small light thingys that you see in the night sky when you travel somewhere else :>)

Ya know, I'd been meaning to ask about those. Okay, thanks.

And while we're at it, why is it that so many places waste electricity by turning on that awful blindingly bright light during the day? It's ugly, it's horrible, and it hurts my eyes. (It's always too long until I can return to the comforting soft cool gray wet skies of my Seattle home...

...where it's sort of like Scotland *\;-)

19 posted on 02/25/2004 6:51:19 PM PST by Eala (Sacrificing tagline fame for... TRAD ANGLICAN RESOURCE PAGE: http://eala.freeservers.com/anglican)
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To: Indy Pendance
Anybody know when (date & time) and where we should look?
20 posted on 02/25/2004 6:52:29 PM PST by upchuck (Ta-ray-za now gets to execute her "maiming of choice." I'm hoping for eye gouging, how 'bout you?)
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