DocM Posted September 26, 2012 Share Posted September 26, 2012 http://cosmiclog.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/09/25/14096323-super-comet-or-super-dud-well-see?lite Super-comet or super-dud? We'll seeA new comet superstar named C/2012 S1 (ISON) is heading for the spotlight starting in November 2013 ? but will it perform as some hope it will, or will it be a dud of cosmic proportions? "This is one to watch, definitely," said Karl Battams, a scientist at the Naval Research Laboratory who monitors comets for the NASA-supported Sungrazer Comet Project. "But the astronomy community in general tries not to overhype these things. Potentially it will be amazing. Potentially it will be a huge dud." Comet ISON quickly rose to the top of the charts after its discovery, which was based on imagery collected on Friday by the International Scientific Optical Network's 16-inch (0.4-meter) Santel reflecting telescope in Russia. The comet, which was described in an IAU circular on Monday, takes its common name from the network's acronym. Since the discovery, astronomers have gone back through their files to find "pre-discovery" images and calculate the comet's orbit. That orbit is due to bring Comet ISON incredibly close to the sun ? within just 1.1 million miles (1.8 million kilometers) in late November of next year. As a result, current projections suggest it could get very bright. How bright? Various estimates have set the brightest magnitude at -10 to -16. That suggests the comet could become brighter than the full moon ? which led Astronomy Magazine's Michael E. Bakich to say it "probably will become the brightest comet anyone alive has ever seen." > laserfloyd 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dot Matrix Posted September 26, 2012 Share Posted September 26, 2012 Seems cool. Hopefully, we'll get something to look at. I haven't seen a comet since Hale-Bopp in '97. Obi-Wan Kenobi and ShareShiz 2 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Growled Member Posted September 27, 2012 Member Share Posted September 27, 2012 We'll see. They don't have a very good prediction record on comets. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocM Posted April 29, 2013 Author Share Posted April 29, 2013 Hubble took a pic Crisp 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Growled Member Posted April 30, 2013 Member Share Posted April 30, 2013 Nice picture. I hope it looks like that from Earth in November. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShareShiz Posted April 30, 2013 Share Posted April 30, 2013 Hale-Bopp was ****en AWESOME. Can't wait for this. Any info on long it will take to pass by Earth, like how long we will be able to see it ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Obi-Wan Kenobi Posted April 30, 2013 Share Posted April 30, 2013 Seems cool. Hopefully, we'll get something to look at. I haven't seen a comet since Hale-Bopp in '97. Same here, Dot. I was disappointed because I missed this latest one...it was just too far on the horizon for me to see it from where I live. Too many houses/trees/buildings. I was disappointed. Hale-Bopp, though...I'll never forget that!! (Y) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laserfloyd Posted April 30, 2013 Share Posted April 30, 2013 Hale-Bopp was a great one. Hale-Bopp was ****en AWESOME. Can't wait for this. Any info on long it will take to pass by Earth, like how long we will be able to see it ? I think we'll get a solid couple of weeks in Nov? Another awesome fact is that this thing will pass nearly a million miles from the Sun traveling at, wait for it, over 400,000mph. It's going to be hauling serious ass..teroid (ok bad joke I know!). It might even be going so fast that it's orbit will be hyperbolic, meaning it will make one appearance and then leave the solar system forever. Neat eh? I'm really hoping this one comes to life as I'm hankerin' for a good comet. I saw a very very faint PANNSTARS a few weeks ago but it was meh. My kids were like "wow... so exciting *yawn* " lol. I hope this one makes their jaws drop. :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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