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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.
TOPICS: News/Current Events
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To: Eala
That glowy thing that travels around during the light gray time of the day? I once heard a rumor that it was a big burning orb of hot gasses. So that's where Marlon Brando lives. (I live in Burien)
21
posted on
02/25/2004 6:54:01 PM PST
by
irishtenor
("Trying is the first step toward failure." - Homer Simpson)
To: blam
A comet landing in one's yard can spoil your whole day.
22
posted on
02/25/2004 6:55:27 PM PST
by
Chris Talk
(What Earth now is, Mars once was. What Mars now is, Earth will become.)
To: martin_fierro
The screen saver is very nice (using it now), but definitely check out Celestia. Stunning! Thanks, I will. I see they have Mandrake RPMs; maybe they'll work on my RedHat system. (And if not... I'm considering changing distros anyway...)
23
posted on
02/25/2004 6:55:39 PM PST
by
Eala
(Sacrificing tagline fame for... TRAD ANGLICAN RESOURCE PAGE: http://eala.freeservers.com/anglican)
To: Indy Pendance; sistergoldenhair
Bump; ping.
24
posted on
02/25/2004 6:57:49 PM PST
by
facedown
(Armed in the Heartland)
Comment #25 Removed by Moderator
To: martin_fierro
COOL! I was looking for a Hitch Hiker's Guide graphic just yesterday.
26
posted on
02/25/2004 7:10:19 PM PST
by
Professional Engineer
(We're going to Mars & Venus & Titan & Saturn and then on to Jupiter and Uranus.~Yeeeeeeaaaaaahh!)
To: Chris Talk
"A comet landing in one's yard can spoil your whole day." Yup, and people would talk about if for thousands of years.
27
posted on
02/25/2004 7:15:21 PM PST
by
blam
To: Indy Pendance
Interesting that I have only seen TWO comets in my LIFETIME easily visible to the naked eye..Hyakutake and Hale-Bopp in '96 and '97. It was unbelievable!!
Now two in one month....
28
posted on
02/25/2004 7:37:47 PM PST
by
Indie
(The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.")
To: martin_fierro
Nice links to some great software....you are a credit to Freeperdom. Danke!
29
posted on
02/25/2004 7:39:16 PM PST
by
pgobrien
(82d Airborne All the Way!)
To: billorites
Speaking of End Times...try THIS one for a reach. Scroll down to Hale Bopp...
DOOM [my title]
30
posted on
02/25/2004 8:22:31 PM PST
by
Indie
(The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.")
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