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The Strange Death of Comet Ison
KentuckyFC (1144503) writes "Last year, astronomers announced that a small ball of ice and rock heading towards the inner Solar System could turn out to be the most eye-catching comet in living memory. They calculated that Comet Ison's orbit would take it behind the Sun but that it would then head towards Earth where it would put on a spectacular display of heavenly fireworks. Sure enough, Ison brightened dramatically as it headed Sunwards. But as astronomers watched on the evening of 28 November, the brightly flaring Ison moved behind the Sun but never emerged. The comet simply disappeared. Now a new analysis of the death of Ison suggests that the comet was doomed long before it reached the Sun. Images from several Sun-observing spacecraft that had a unique view of events, indicate that Ison exhausted its supply of water and other ice in the final flare-ups as it approached the Sun. The new study shows that all that was left in its last hours were a few hundred thousands pebbles glowing brightly as they vaporized in the Sun's heat. In fact, Comet Ison died in full view of the watching hordes of astronomers on Earth who did not realize what they were watching at the time."
First, of course was Shoemaker-Levy 9.
And we're not counting people who don tracksuits, Nikes and scarf deadly pudding whenever they see a big comet scooting by.
A feeling of having made the same mistake before: Deja Foobar
Big ball of ice surprisingly vanished behind big ball of fire, analysis to follow.
Yup, we've come a long way in our understanding of the universe.
I think Icarus had the same problem.
I don't read your sig. Why are you reading mine?
Question for you... are you looking at the sky at night, or during the day?
what's a "telecope?"
It's a device for accepting something and dealing with it from a distance, obviously.
I've spent many hours with a telecope looking for comets, and again, they lied.
Clearly, this poster has been so badly affected by astronomers' lies that he has now turned to calling his therapist whenever he feels the need to look at the sky. It's a coping mechanism, executed remotely: a telecope.
You do not have a moral or legal right to do absolutely anything you want.
I don't know where you camp in you urban back yard or something? I've seen meteor showers first hand and they do happen, often when the astronomers predict them. But I also go to places which are far from urban lights to see them and you have to understand what a meteor shower looks like. It's not hundreds of shooting stars like a fireworks display but one every so often. Sometimes it takes a bit of trying to see them because you have to wait for your night vision to return, and then it can take time to actually observe much.
Ah, the memories of my childhood out on the farm. We would go out in the field, lay on our back and watch such events sometimes. Good times..
"File to fit, pound to insert, paint to match" - Aircraft Maintenance 101
I use a telecope for dealing with relatives. I could never handle them up close.
Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
All the coverage I saw (from astronomy writers, NASA, etc.) said there was definitely a chance of it burning up.
If the non-science media hyped it up somewhat, well they do that for everything. Yes, I a (and many others watched for ISON). Yes, we were disappointed, but no one should have been surprised.
Totally fabricated. NASA with a high-altitude test plane throwing out rocks to simulate showers.
I know this for fact: when younger, I went out on the roof and watched a beautiful meteor shower (persieds believe was 'named')...
...but then they announced budget cuts to NASA. There was less money in astronomy. Shuttles started getting issues launching to cover up this reduced budget. During every subsequent 'meteor shower' that was scheduled... the skies were overcast all night, and the sound of planes could be heard infrequently.
The truth couldn't be more obvious: NASA could no longer afford to dump rocks to fake the showers anymore. The showers were scheduled though, even if the money for the special effects was lacking. Instead, they just seeded the clouds to force poor visibility so the myth of the meteor shower could continue onwards. Even as I type this now, the weather forecast gives days of sunny weather, but overcast or rainy evenings. How much longer must this go on? We must either return NASA's budget back to its Hollywood Effects heyday, or admit to ourselves... space is just really really empty, and 'space stuff' is just a lie.
...while it lasted. Especially through my 20cm Newtonian. so bright, so bold.
"That's right...I said it."
Oh lord, you realize you just started another conspiracy theory, right? I should start an email chain tonight, attributing this to some vague authority. I wonder how long it would take to propagate.
His ignorance covered the whole earth like a blanket, and there was hardly a hole in it anywhere. - Mark Twain