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Keyword: comet

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  • Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) latest news, predictions and what to expect this autumn

    06/26/2024 5:58:59 AM PDT · by COBOL2Java · 32 replies
    BBC Sky At Night ^ | June 24, 2024 at 2:43 am | Stuart Atkinson
    Could Comet A3 become another Great Comet, or even simply reach naked-eye brightness? We'll find out in autumn 2024... Have you heard about Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) yet? Comet observers are all hoping for big things from comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan–ATLAS) in autumn 2024. When it was discovered, it was hailed as a potential ‘comet of the century’ and calculations suggested it might become as bright as mag. -4! It’s now thought that at best A3 will reach mag. +0.4, a lot fainter but still much brighter than the last really bright comet, C/2020 F3 (NEOWISE), which delighted sky-watchers in...
  • “The comet of the century” visible to the naked eye this weekend: exact time to watch

    09/27/2024 9:21:10 PM PDT · by blueplum · 21 replies
    Daily Galaxy msn ^ | 27 Sept 2024 | Editorial Staff
    The Tsuchinshan-ATLAS comet, also named C/2023 A3, will reach its closest approach to the Sun, or perihelion, on Friday, September 27, 2024, at a distance of 59 million kilometers. As the comet journeys through the inner solar system, it offers an impressive display.... In the United States... From September 27 to September 30, the comet will be best observed in the southeastern sky, about an hour before dawn.... ...the comet will be visible again in mid-October. On October 13, it will be at its closest to Earth, around 71 million kilometers away, and will be observable after sunset, looking west....
  • stronomy Picture of the Day - Comet A3 Through an Australian Sunrise

    09/25/2024 12:20:30 PM PDT · by MtnClimber · 23 replies
    NASA ^ | 25 Sep, 2024 | Image Credit & Copyright: Lucy Yunxi Hu
    Explanation: Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS is now visible in the early morning sky. Diving into the inner Solar System at an odd angle, this large dirty iceberg will pass its closest to the Sun -- between the orbits of Mercury and Venus -- in just two days. Long camera exposures are now capturing C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan–ATLAS), sometimes abbreviated as just A3, and its dust tail before and during sunrise. The featured image composite was taken four days ago and captured the comet as it rose above Lake George, NSW, Australia. Vertical bands further left are images of the comet as the rising...
  • A comet may become visible to the unaided eye in the coming weeks. Here's how you can see it

    09/23/2024 9:24:18 AM PDT · by jerod · 25 replies
    CBC News ^ | Sept 23, 2024 | Nicole Mortillaro
    Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan–ATLAS) has the potential to put on a stellar showThere's a new comet in the sky that has gained a lot of attention lately over its potential to become visible to the naked eye. Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan–ATLAS) was discovered by observatories in China and South Africa in early 2023. Believed to have originated from the Oort Cloud — a giant spherical shell that surrounds our solar system and contains billions of icy objects — this little comet has been slowly making its way into our solar system. At the moment, Comet C/2023 A3 is roughly 175...
  • Comet Smacked Neptune 200 Years Ago, Data Suggests [2010]

    09/22/2024 10:37:39 AM PDT · by SunkenCiv · 25 replies
    Space dot com ^ | July 23, 2010 | Denise Chow
    New measurements of Neptune's atmosphere by a European space telescope suggest that a comet may have crashed into the gas giant about 200 years ago.Scientists analyzed the composition of Neptune's atmosphere using data from the Herschel space observatory. They found a peculiar distribution of carbon monoxide in the gas giant's atmosphere, which could be an indication of an earlier comet impact...Other similar collisions between comets (or asteroids) and planets helped the astronomers detect the telltale signs of cometary impacts.When pieces of the comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 slammed into Jupiter in 1994, scientists were able to examine the trajectory and debris to...
  • Astronomy Picture of the Day - Comet Pons-Brooks Develops Opposing Tails

    06/04/2024 12:19:19 PM PDT · by MtnClimber · 8 replies
    NASA ^ | 4 Jun, 2024 | Image Credit & Copyright: Rolando Ligustri & Lukas Demetz
    Explanation: Why does Comet Pons-Brooks now have tails pointing in opposite directions? The most spectacular tail is the blue-glowing ion tail that is visible flowing down the image. The ion tail is pushed directly out from the Sun by the solar wind. On the upper right is the glowing central coma of Comet 12P/Pons–Brooks. Fanning out from the coma, mostly to the left, is the comet's dust tail. Pushed out and slowed down by the pressure of sunlight, the dust tail tends to trail the comet along its orbit and, from some viewing angles, can appear opposite to the ion...
  • Astronomy Picture of the Day - The Changing Ion Tail of Comet Pons-Brooks

    04/08/2024 12:50:58 PM PDT · by MtnClimber · 5 replies
    NASA ^ | 8 Apr, 2024 | Image Credit & Copyright: Shengyu Li & Shaining
    Explanation: How does a comet tail change? It depends on the comet. The ion tail of Comet 12P/Pons–Brooks has been changing markedly, as detailed in the featured image sequenced over nine days from March 6 to 14 (top to bottom). On some days, the comet's ion tail was relatively long and complex, but not every day. Reasons for tail changes include the rate of ejection of material from the comet's nucleus, the strength and complexity of the passing solar wind, and the rotation rate of the comet. Over the course of a week, apparent changes even include a change of...
  • Astronomy Picture of the Day - Comet Pons-Brooks at Night

    04/04/2024 2:44:56 PM PDT · by MtnClimber · 12 replies
    NASA ^ | 4 Apr, 2024 | Image Credit & Copyright: Dan Bartlett`
    Explanation: In dark evening skies over June Lake, northern hemisphere, planet Earth, Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks stood just above the western horizon on March 30. Its twisted turbulent ion tail and diffuse greenish coma are captured in this two degree wide telescopic field of view along with bright yellowish star Hamal also known as Alpha Arietis. Now Pons-Brooks has moved out of the northern night though, approaching perihelion on April 21. On April 8 you might still spot the comet in daytime skies. But to do it, you will have to stand in the path of totality and look away from the...
  • X MARKS THE SHOT

    04/05/2024 7:26:02 AM PDT · by bitt · 17 replies
    https://www.coffeeandcovid.com ^ | 4/5/2024 | JEFF CHILDERS
    Good morning, C&C family, it’s Friday! This morning’s post tumbles down the Great American Eclipse rabbit hole, with at least one wild, rarely-mentioned conspiracy theory surviving scrutiny; and the next 100-year pandemic has probably not arrived 96 years early, in spite of what the media wants you to believe. This morning I gave in to the eclipse hype — everyone else is talking about it. I put it all under a skeptical microscope, but at least one conspiracy theory remained not easily explained. Let’s begin with Forbes’ spooky story yesterday, headlined “Here’s Why The Total Solar Eclipse Has Prompted States...
  • Astronomy Picture of the Day - Comet Pons-Brooks' Ion Tail

    03/26/2024 12:47:45 PM PDT · by MtnClimber · 6 replies
    NASA ^ | 26 Mar, 2024 | Image Credit & License: James Peirce
    Explanation: Comet Pons-Brooks has quite a tail to tell. First discovered in 1385, this erupting dirty snowball loops back into our inner Solar System every 71 years and, this time, is starting to put on a show for deep camera exposures. In the featured picture, the light blue stream is the ion tail which consists of charged molecules pushed away from the comet's nucleus by the solar wind. The ion tail, shaped by the Sun's wind and the comet's core's rotation, always points away from the Sun. Comet 12P/Pons–Brooks is now visible with binoculars in the early evening sky toward...
  • COMET 12P Pons-Brooks : ( Some Images ) Dec til Today.

    02/28/2024 5:52:49 AM PST · by Orlando · 3 replies
    Youtube ^ | 2-28-24 | Orlando
    A collection of JUST a TINY few.
  • Astronomy Picture of the Day - Structure in the Tail of Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks

    02/16/2024 12:48:10 PM PST · by MtnClimber · 6 replies
    NASA ^ | 16 Feb, 2024 | Image Credit & Copyright: Dan Bartlett`
    Explanation: Heading for its next perihelion passage on April 21, Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks is growing brighter. The greenish coma of this periodic Halley-type comet has become relatively easy to observe in small telescopes. But the bluish ion tail now streaming from the active comet's coma and buffeted by the solar wind, is faint and difficult to follow. Still, in this image stacked exposures made on the night of February 11 reveal the fainter tail's detailed structures. The frame spans over two degrees across a background of faint stars and background galaxies toward the northern constellation Lacerta. Of course Comet 12P's April...
  • Can astronomers use radar to spot a cataclysmic asteroid?

    02/18/2024 5:07:40 PM PST · by Red Badger · 17 replies
    Space Daily ^ | Feb 18, 2024 | by Clarence Oxford
    NEO 2003 SD220 on screen. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ How can humans protect the Earth from "devastating asteroid and comet impacts?" According to the National Academies and their 2023-2032 Planetary Science and Astrobiology Decadal Survey, ground based astronomical radar systems will have a "unique role" to play in planetary defense. There is currently only one system in the world concentrating on these efforts, NASA's Goldstone Solar System Radar, part of the Deep Space Network (DSN). However, a new instrument concept from the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) called the next generation RADAR (ngRADAR) system will use the National Science Foundation's Green Bank Telescope...
  • Arkansas family suspects meteorite caused smoking hole in their deck

    10/26/2023 10:52:29 AM PDT · by Red Badger · 36 replies
    UPI ^ | OCT. 26, 2023 / 1:20 PM | By Ben Hooper
    Oct. 26 (UPI) -- An Arkansas family who awoke to the smell of fire discovered a smoking hole in their deck -- and they suspect a meteorite may have been to blame. John Devane of Greenwood said he and his family awoke to the smell of smoke inside their house about 3 a.m. and set about searching for the source. They discovered the smoke was coming from a hole in their deck, which had apparently caught fire. Devane said the flames had been extinguished when a corner of the family's hot tub melted from the heat, causing it to pour...
  • ‘Devil’ Comet Bigger Than Mount Everest Now Heading Toward Earth after Explosion

    10/19/2023 10:35:38 AM PDT · by Red Badger · 65 replies
    SLAY News ^ | October 19, 2023 - 8:21 am | David Lindfield
    Scientists are reporting that a “horned” comet three times bigger than Mount Everest is hurtling toward Earth after encountering a large explosion. The blast originated on October 5 from 12P/Pons-Brooks a cryovolcanic — or cold volcano — comet. According to Live Science, the comet, nicknamed the “Devil” due to its apparent horns, measures a colossal 18.6 miles in diameter, or the size of a small city. For reference, Mount Everest, the highest mountain on Earth, is about 5.5 miles high. This marked the second time this interstellar ice cube erupted in the last four months. The Science Times reports that...
  • A prehistoric cosmic airburst preceded the advent of agriculture in the Levant

    10/06/2023 4:16:13 AM PDT · by FarCenter · 27 replies
    Agriculture in Syria started with a bang 12,800 years ago as a fragmented comet slammed into the Earth's atmosphere. The explosion and subsequent environmental changes forced hunter-gatherers in the prehistoric settlement of Abu Hureyra to adopt agricultural practices to boost their chances for survival. That's the assertion made by an international group of scientists in one of four related research papers, all appearing in the journal Science Open: Airbursts and Cratering Impacts. The papers are the latest results in the investigation of the Younger Dryas Impact Hypothesis, the idea that an anomalous cooling of the Earth almost 13 millennia ago...
  • Astronomy Picture of the Day - Comet Nishimura Grows

    09/09/2023 1:01:51 PM PDT · by MtnClimber · 14 replies
    NASA ^ | 9 Sep, 2023 | Credit & Copyright: Peter Kennett
    Explanation: Comet Nishimura is growing. More precisely, the tails C/2023 P1 (Nishimura) are growing as it nears the Sun. Discovered only last month, the comet is already near naked eye brightness as it now moves inside the Earth's orbit. The comet will be nearest the Earth next week, but nearest the Sun the week after -- on September 17. Speculation holds that expelled ice and dust from Comet Nishimura's last visit to the inner Solar System may have created the Sigma Hydrids meteor shower which peaks yearly in December. If so, then this meteor shower may become more active, refreshed...
  • Comet 2023 P1 (Nishimura) : "Where To Find It"

    09/10/2023 7:26:08 AM PDT · by Orlando · 5 replies
    Youtube ^ | 9-10-23 | Orlando
    Comet 2023 P1 (Nishimura) Should be visible from Hawaii very soon ? Link to site in description. Please give me a thumbs up and subscribe trying to grow my channel thank you
  • Astronomy Picture of the Day - Introducing Comet Nishimura

    08/21/2023 12:13:03 PM PDT · by MtnClimber · 9 replies
    NASA ^ | 21 Aug, 2023 | Credit & Copyright: Dan Bartlett
    Explanation: Will Comet Nishimura become visible to the unaided eye? Given the unpredictability of comets, no one can say for sure, but it currently seems like a good bet. The comet was discovered only ten days ago by Hideo Nishimura during 30-second exposures with a standard digital camera. Since then, C/2023 P1 Nishimura has increased in brightness and its path across the inner Solar System determined. As the comet dives toward the Sun, it will surely continue to intensify and possibly become a naked-eye object in early September. A problem is that the comet will also be angularly near the...
  • 'Once in a Lifetime' Comet Is Shaped Like The Millennium Falcon

    07/28/2023 10:57:09 AM PDT · by Red Badger · 45 replies
    Science Alert ^ | July 27, 2023 | ELLIE ZOLFAGHARIFARD,
    A composite image showing Comet 12P/Pons-Brook (left) and a model of the Millennium Falcon spaceship from "Star Wars" (right). (Comet Chasers/Faulkes Telescope Project/Las Cumbres Observatory/Reuters/Insider) Astronomers have spotted a "once-in-a-lifetime" comet shaped like the Millennium Falcon – and sky gazers may soon be able to see it for themselves without a telescope. The comet, known as Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks, abruptly brightened 100-fold on July 20 as plumes of debris and ice were blasted off it into space. This gave it a horseshoe shape, which scientists likened to the Millennium Falcon spaceship from "Star Wars." The comet will make its closest approach...