Strange comet unlike anything known

MSNBC ^ | June 17, 2004

[traumer]

A detailed analysis of the comet Wild 2 (pronounced "Vilt 2") has left astronomers astounded at an object that has no known peers in the solar system.

The comet, examined in a close flyby in January by NASA's Stardust spacecraft, has towering protrusions and steep-walled craters that seem to defy gravity. More than a dozen jets of material shoot out from its insides. Dust swirls around the comet in unexpectedly dense pockets.

Among the bizarre features are two depressions with flat floors and nearly vertical walls that resemble giant footprints. They aren't structured like typical impact craters. The features have been named Left Foot and Right Foot in a new map of the comet, which is roughly 3 miles (5 kilometers) wide.

[TC Rider]

Maybe this is the comet that is coming to pick up those guys who all killed themsleves the last time a comet came around.

Don't you hate it when you've killed yourself and it's the wrong comet.

[<1/1,000,000th%]

It's a giant quark.

[Bosco]

Maybe this is the comet that is coming to pick up those guys who all killed themsleves the last time a comet came around.

Don't you hate it when you've killed yourself and it's the wrong comet.

Q: Why didn't the spaceship come to earth to pick up the Heaven's Gate cult members?

A: They didn't have the balls.

[50sDad]

That is one of my favorite "read again and again" books. No better "alien invasion" book, in my opinion (and I couldn't help but think of it during Independence Day!) A close second for Best Book (SF) though may be "Mote in God's Eye".

[BibChr]

That's right; I thought the best part was the dawning perceptions of the coming invasion, and ID was reminiscent (ripoff? homage?) of that. Ditto Rama.

Dan

[SunkenCiv]

Well said.

[Fiddlstix]

BTTT

[SeaBiscuit]

looks like the Death Star

[Crawdad]

[sweetliberty]

[SunkenCiv]

Ping!

[SunkenCiv]

Note: this topic is from 06/18/2004. It has been pinged on the Catastrophism list, but never got a proper ping message, nor had it been added to the catalog (looks like).

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[SunkenCiv]

• NASA Comet Chaser Finds 'Footprints' 2BN Miles Away (Stardust Mission)