Brightest comet ever could make spectacular appearance 2013-2014

October 2, 2012 – SPACE - If astronomers’ early predictions hold true, the holidays next year may hold a glowing gift for stargazers—a super bright comet, just discovered streaking near Saturn. Even with powerful telescopes, comet 2012 S1 (ISON) is now just a faint glow in the constellation Cancer. But the ball of ice and rocks might become visible to the naked eye for a few months in late 2013 and early 2014—perhaps outshining the moon, astronomers say. The comet is already remarkably bright, given how far it is from the sun, astronomer Raminder Singh Samra said. What’s more, 2012 S1 seems to be following the path of the Great Comet of 1680, considered one of the most spectacular ever seen from Earth. “If it lives up to expectations, this comet may be one of the brightest in history,” said Samra, of the H.R. MacMillan Space Centre in Vancouver, Canada. So what makes a comet a showstopper? A lot depends on how much gas and dust is blasted off the central core of ice and rocks. The bigger the resulting cloud and tail, the more reflective the body may be. Because 2012 S1 appears to be fairly large—possibly approaching two miles (three kilometers) wide—and will fly very close to the sun, astronomers have calculated that the comet may shine brighter, though not bigger, than the full moon in the evening sky. First spotted late last week by Russian astronomers Artyom Novichonok and Vitali Nevski of the International Scientific Optical Network (ISON), comet 2012 S1 was confirmed by the International Astronomical Union on Monday. But while we know what 2012 S1 is, it’s still unclear where it came from. Its orbit suggests the comet may be a runaway from the Oort cloud, where billions of comets orbit about a hundred thousand times farther from the sun than Earth is. Right now, 2012 S1 appears to be about 615 million miles (990 million kilometers) from Earth, between the orbits of Saturn and Jupiter, astronomers say. As the sun’s gravity pulls the comet closer, it should pass about 6.2 million miles (10 million kilometers) from Mars—possibly a unique photo opportunity for NASA’s new Curiosity rover. Current orbital predictions indicate the comet will look brightest to us in the weeks just after its closest approach to the sun, on November 28, 2013—if 2012 S1 survives the experience. As the comet comes within about 1.2 million miles (2 million kilometers) of the sun, the star’s intense heat and gravity could cause the ice and rubble to break apart, scotching the sky show. “While some predictions suggest it may become as bright as the full moon and even visible during the day, one should be cautious when predicting how exciting a comet may get,” Samra said. “Some comets have been notorious for creating a buzz but failing to put on a dazzling display,” he said. “Only time will tell.”

Its not a comet. Its a piloted craft with an invisible force field around it.

Floyd wrote:Its not a comet. Its a piloted craft with an invisible force field around it.

Says who???

Cann't we just save alot of time and and bother and copy and paste the Elenin thread?

Talk about the collapsing of time well here we go. The thrills just get closer and closer together.
Its gonna be good to see this one unfold. Wonder if we could compare the time lines of the 2 events??

Its good to be here.


t

Beren wrote:

Floyd wrote:Its not a comet. Its a piloted craft with an invisible force field around it.

Says who???

Well it was a sarcastic statement Bez but you can bet your bottom dollar someone will be calling it something it isnt sooner or later.

We had Courtney Brown and the Heavens Gate cult saying there was a spaceship in the trail of Hale Bopp. Wrong.

Then people like Marshall Masters and Hoagland calling Elenin a piloted craft etc and asteroid YU-55 an artificial decoy. Wrong and wrong.

These people dont seem to appreciate that comets are fascinating orbital space dust balls and nothing else. Perhaps they do realise that and that's why they are scammers rather than being cerebrally challenged or deluded. Unless they are waged misinformers.

We should enjoy it for what it is. A comet


Second thoughts, I actually think this comet is the Yellow Submarine with an invisible force field around it, piloted by John Lennon who is coming back to install peace on Earth for all beings.

It sure will be an interesting view when it comes.

Love from me
mudra

mudra wrote:It sure will be an interesting view when it comes.

Love from me
mudra

You bet baby.

Telescope at the ready.

its scheduled for 16dec2013 - the end of the current grand cycle (wink) (big grin)

Well thats my birthday so I will let you know of stuff goes down suzy