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Comet Catalina To Pass By Earth For the Final Time

StartsWithABang writes: Originating from the Kuiper belt and the Oort cloud, comets are generally thought of as periodic objects, with their initial trajectories having been perturbed by either Neptune, another distant object or a passing star or rogue planet. But most comets aren't periodic; they're transient instead, where a trip into the inner Solar System gives them additional gravitational perturbations, causing them to either fly into the Sun or gain enough kinetic energy to escape entirely. This latter fate is the case for Comet Catalina, which reaches perihelion on November 15th and then heads out of the Solar System after putting on one final show for observers on Earth.

3 of 54 comments (clear)

  1. Summary doesn't address the most important aspect by DNS-and-BIND · · Score: 3, Funny

    The summary leaves out the most important part of this whole thing, the part that is most critical to answer: what kind of shirt was the spokesman wearing when he made the announcement? We can't possibly evaluate if this is OK unless we know. Is there any word?

    --
    Shutting down free speech with violence isn't fighting fascism. It IS fascism!
  2. Note to the RIAA and MPAA by arglebargle_xiv · · Score: 4, Funny

    We have been informed that Catalina's Comet is the home of a major warez site. We recommend that you get over to it immediately to sort it out. We'll keep a slot open for you on the comet's return.

  3. Re:Halley's Comet by asylumx · · Score: 4, Funny

    Psh, everyone knows fantasy football is "skill based" ;-)