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Double Comet Spectacular... Maybe

Posted by michael on from the managing-expectations dept.

jd writes "CNN is reporting that two comets, named NEAT and LINEAR after the obervatories that found them, may both be visible in the sky at the same time. The prediction is that they will first be seen in the southern hemisphere in mid-April, becoming visible in the northern skies in May. This is believed to be the first time these comets have passed through the inner solar system, so astronomers are hedging their bets on how bright they will be. Guesses range from plus infinity to minus infinity."

13 of 28 comments (clear)

  1. Guesses? by unperson · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...so astronomers are hedging their bets on how bright they will be. Guesses range from plus infinity to minus infinity

    Damn close minded scientists...are they even CONSIDERING a brightness level in the complex plane?

  2. Brightness by epsilon720 · · Score: 5, Informative
    Minus infinity being, of course, the brightest. Stupid astronomers.

    (I should point out that the sun has an apparent magnitude of only around -26, so minus infinity is a pretty damn bright comet.)

    1. Re:Brightness by HughsOnFirst · · Score: 4, Funny

      Guess I better stock up on sunscreen, or maybe lead.

    2. Re:Brightness by kommakazi · · Score: 2, Funny

      Bah you don't need those, only tinfoil hats so the super-intelligent microbes on the comets can't control your mind!!!

  3. Coin flip by JHromadka · · Score: 3, Funny

    Maybe they should flip a coin to decide if the comets will be bright enough to see. ;)

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    "The objective of securing the safety of Americans from crime and terror has been achieved." -- John Ashcroft
    1. Re:Coin flip by mwheeler01 · · Score: 5, Funny

      yeah, but who can rely on the flip of a coin nowadays?

      (too lazy to post a link to a previous story)

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  4. huh? by hookedup · · Score: 2, Funny

    They're clustering comets now?

    1. Re:huh? by Toxygen · · Score: 2, Funny

      But can they run linux?

  5. Brightness charts out for a month already by dtolman · · Score: 5, Informative

    Sky and Telescope has had an estimated brightness chart posted since the beginning of February. The article has already been updated to say one of the comets is falling behind the initial estimated brightness. Basically - expect a good show if you have a telescope or a good set of binoculars - don't expect a spector of doom hanging in the sky...

  6. prediction... by Spudley · · Score: 4, Funny

    The two comets collide, and the resulting super-comet makes a NEATly-LINEAR path directly toward Earth. :-o

    --
    (Spudley Strikes Again!)
    1. Re:prediction... by Spudley · · Score: 3, Informative

      Bah. No-one appreciates a bad pun any more. ;)

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      (Spudley Strikes Again!)
  7. Gay Marriage by Marijuana+al-Shehi · · Score: 4, Funny

    Two comets in the sky at the same time? That is obviously proof that our noble and benevolent (but egotistical and psychotic) God is preparing to punish us for destroying the sanctity of marriage! Oh wait...is this FreeRepublic or slashdot? Damn, there goes my karma!

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  8. Re:ruh oh by Mr.+Slippery · · Score: 4, Insightful
    He got a plane crash right in 1979

    "Got it right" how? "On March 2 1979, FooBar Airlines flight 17 out of XYZ Airport will suffer engine failure and crash on takeoff", or "Somewhere near a major city in the late winter or spring there will be an accident involving a plane"?

    And how many did he not get right? Make enough predictions and you'll have a few hits.

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