63 replies to this topic

[Xanthurion2]

thanks for the hospitality.

[ROGER]

That's just the way people are. And the heads up now will keep folks looking for updates of any course deviations. I know I will be outside looking at it.

[Waspie_Dwarf]

Xanthurion2, on 30 December 2012 - 02:46 AM, said:

thanks for the hospitality.

It was not my intention to upset you, however you have to admit that complaining because information was released straight away is bizarre to say the least.

My other comments were intended to be light hearted but make a valid point. If this comet lives up to expectations you won't need to remember it, it will be unmissable and is likely to grab a lot of media attention closer to the time,

[ashven]

They saw this one really late so there maybe another one just behind it and out of sight heading right for us!!!! So the Mayans were a year out,not bad considering the didn't have an electronic calculator. This is pure speculation obviously...........or is it??

[27vet]

I remember doing scenic flights for a comet, forget which one, a passenger asked if we would see it better since we were closer than people on the ground.

[Paracelse]

CuriousGreek, on 27 December 2012 - 04:24 PM, said:

I'll be looking forwars to seeing it

You wouldn't be "CuriousGreek" if you didn't

[CuriousGreek]

Paracelse, on 30 December 2012 - 05:46 PM, said:

You wouldn't be "CuriousGreek" if you didn't

True, lol!   

[Darkwind]

Thanks Waspie, I respect your judgement, I'll wait and see.

[Andromedan Starseed 333]

thats cool the comet because i never seen one  i hear about them and shooting stars but i never seen them for myself!i hope it last the comet and i'm looking forward to it.outer space is really  amazing and interesting.i like the ESA agency way better than NASA and russian astronomers are awesome.

[Daughter of the Nine Moons]

Waspie_Dwarf, on 28 December 2012 - 08:12 PM, said:

stevewinn mentioned Hale-Bopp. That is a good example of the unpredictability of comets. Hale-Bopp brightened whilst still a long way from the sun. However it's brightening slowed considerably, leading many to think that it may not be as spectacular as first thought. Then it got to close to the sun to be observed. When it returned it had brightened considerably and was spectacular.

But there was another comet that was seen to be very bright whilst still at a great distance from the sun, Comet Kohoutek in 1973. Like Hale-Bopp this was expected to be a great comet, even being described as "the Comet of the Century". It was no such thing. Kohoutek disintegrated as it came close to the sun and was only just visible to the naked eye.

Whether Ison is a Kohoutek or a Hale-Bopp, only time will tell.

*crosses fingers for another Hale-Bopp*

I want my little guy to see a Great Comet

Waspie_Dwarf, on 30 December 2012 - 02:33 AM, said:

If this comet is as bright as the best case scenarios predict then you won't need to remember, you will just need to follow three basic steps.

• Wait until it is dark.
  
• Go outside.
  
• Look up.

I love Waspie quotes

King Cobra 1408, on 30 December 2012 - 10:43 PM, said:

i like the ESA agency way better than NASA and russian astronomers are awesome.

That's kind of a silly statement isn't it?

[Waspie_Dwarf]

ashven, on 30 December 2012 - 12:36 PM, said:

They saw this one really late

No they didn't. They first observed this comet in September 2012, a full 13 months before it's closest approach to the sun. It was still beyond Jupiter when it wqas discovered meaning this comet was discovered really early.

ashven, on 30 December 2012 - 12:36 PM, said:

so there maybe another one just behind it and out of sight heading right for us!!!!

You can't hide one comet behind another, orbital mechanics don't allow it. If it was just behind Ison it would be not be out of sight as it would be in the same region of the sky.

If it was following Ison it would be on a similar orbital path to Ison and would therefore not come close to the Earth.

ashven, on 30 December 2012 - 12:36 PM, said:

So the Mayans were a year out,not bad considering the didn't have an electronic calculator.

Except that the Mayans never predicted the end of the world, it's just some nonsense believed by the terminally gullible.

ashven, on 30 December 2012 - 12:36 PM, said:

This is pure speculation obviously...........or is it??

I think calling a post which contains not a single correct fact "speculation" would to be flattering it somewhat.

[Idano]

Waspie_Dwarf, on 28 December 2012 - 08:12 PM, said:

I hate to be the bringer of bad news but there are two things that need to be considered:

• Comets are notoriously difficult to predict.
  
• Newspaper headlines are notoriously sensationalist.

The "brighter than a full moon" prediction is a best case scenario. It is highly likely that, like so many comets before, this will be a damp squib. How bright it is depends on how much dust and gas evaporate from the cometary nucleus as the comets nears the sun, and we just won't know that until nearer the time.

stevewinn mentioned Hale-Bopp. That is a good example of the unpredictability of comets. Hale-Bopp brightened whilst still a long way from the sun. However it's brightening slowed considerably, leading many to think that it may not be as spectacular as first thought. Then it got to close to the sun to be observed. When it returned it had brightened considerably and was spectacular.

But there was another comet that was seen to be very bright whilst still at a great distance from the sun, Comet Kohoutek in 1973. Like Hale-Bopp this was expected to be a great comet, even being described as "the Comet of the Century". It was no such thing. Kohoutek disintegrated as it came close to the sun and was only just visible to the naked eye.

Whether Ison is a Kohoutek or a Hale-Bopp, only time will tell.

Thanks alot smarty pants

[Pyridium]

The Sept 2012 sighting just raised a few flags which led to the search for archived photos of the same sky.  They did indeed find Ison in a photo dated March 2012 and another photo dated late 2011.  The Sept 2012 sighting did not allow for much calculations, but after finding these previous sightings, the numbers were easy to crunch and thus the accurate prediction of speed and direction.

We have been taking photos of the night sky for a very long time now and I am sure we have captured some valuable data only to be unlocked one day in the future.

[jesspy]

Lol maybe the Mayan calendar is based on this comet. Do we know how long its cycle is yet? If its 26000 years that would explain the calendar maybe lol. A feathered serpent could be referring to a comet. Either way it would be great to see. Do we know yet if people in the southern hemisphere will be able to see it?

[Abramelin]

jesspy, on 31 December 2012 - 09:00 AM, said:

Lol maybe the Mayan calendar is based on this comet. Do we know how long its cycle is yet? If its 26000 years that would explain the calendar maybe lol. A feathered serpent could be referring to a comet. Either way it would be great to see. Do we know yet if people in the southern hemisphere will be able to see it?

Who knows? The Maya Calendar starts at 3113 BCE.