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Comet Hale-Bopp 'Frozen To Death'

Posted by Soulskill on from the brrrrrr-bopp dept.

astroengine writes "In 1997, comet Hale-Bopp became the most spectacular space event of the past few decades. But where's the huge lump of ice now? Astronomers have decided to check in on the interplanetary interloper to see how its journey is going after sweeping through the inner solar system 15 years ago. Now beyond the orbit of Neptune, Hale-Bopp has undergone a dramatic change. As it travels further from the sun, inevitably its surface receives less heat, and now the comet appears to have reached a watershed: it has ceased all cometary activity, in stark contrast to only 3 years ago. The next time it will erupt to life will be in around 2,500 years when it completes its next solar flyby."

12 of 76 comments (clear)

  1. 2,500 years by ae1294 · · Score: 2, Funny

    Wow that's a long time to wait for the mothership to return... I might as well just end it all now. Drinking the flavor-aid and all...

    1. Re:2,500 years by Tablizer · · Score: 3, Funny

      Fav Hale-Bopp bumpersticker: "So many idiots, so few comets"

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    2. Re:2,500 years by ShakaUVM · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Yeah. A friend of mine did the website for the realtor selling the property.

      Apparently even being a hilltop mansion isn't enough to get people to buy a place where a bunch of cultists in matching shoes all killed themselves.

    3. Re:2,500 years by Jafafa+Hots · · Score: 2

      If they want a tax write-off, I'm willing to accept a gift.

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    4. Re:2,500 years by tonique · · Score: 2

      Waiting for the next Kreutz sungrazer!

      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kreutz_Sungrazers

  2. Re:Woah woah woah by Lord+Crc · · Score: 4, Informative

    2500 Years? I thought it came around every 70-80 or so.

    You're probably thinking of Halley's comet.

  3. Unusual turn of phrase by 93+Escort+Wagon · · Score: 4, Insightful

    "Frozen to death" doesn't usually foretell a return to life at some later date - maybe "suspended animation" would be a more apt term.

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    1. Re:Unusual turn of phrase by nonguru · · Score: 5, Funny

      I would have thought "chilling out" would be more appropriate.

  4. Re:Woah woah woah by MrQuacker · · Score: 2
    sunovabitch. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comet_Hale-Bopp

    Minneapolis public schools, this is an official fuck you. You liars.

    I was told it was discovered in the 1920's and that it came around every 70-80 years. Bastards.

  5. Re:Woah woah woah by spire3661 · · Score: 2

    Pretty sure you are thinking of Halley's comet.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comet_Hale-Bopp

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halley's_Comet

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  6. News? by kamapuaa · · Score: 5, Insightful

    A comet doing exactly what everybody knows it would do is not exactly news.

    Future Slashdot headlines?

    Moon still orbiting.
    Sun still hot.
    Rings still around Saturn.
    Timothy posting stupid stories.

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  7. Frozen to Death... by taiwanjohn · · Score: 2

    Must'a forgot his sweat pants and Nikes.

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