This is one Comet that has been playing the fool with Astronomers. Comet ISON a Sun Grazer with closest approach of just 730,000 miles, practically skimming above the sun’s surface, also piqued the pride of many space watchers.
If you keep in mind that the Comet ISON began its trip from the Oort cloud region of our solar system at least a million years ago, it is an astounding voyage. As it went through the roasting on Thanksgiving day, initial reports suggested that it had completely burned up.
Yesterday, NASA released new pictures which proved the reports of Comet ISON’s burn-up was greatly exaggerated (apologies to Mark Twain).
Though NASA predicted that if it comes around the sun without breaking up, the comet will be visible in the Northern Hemisphere with the naked eye, particularly bright and beautiful, it is not to be. As the comet ISON pulled away from the sun, it first brightened and then faded, once again.
It now seems unlikely we will get more view of Comet ISON ever - for NASA Goddard’s Karl Battams via his Twitter feed @SunGrazerComets tweeted ‘I do think that something emerged from (its encounter) the Sun, but probably a very small nucleus or “rubble pile”, and I fear that may have now been dissolved” - its first and only forage into the solar system.
Watching that screen capture, you know what I think - it was not a comet at all, but the Silver Surfer!
:-D
If you keep in mind that the Comet ISON began its trip from the Oort cloud region of our solar system at least a million years ago, it is an astounding voyage. As it went through the roasting on Thanksgiving day, initial reports suggested that it had completely burned up.
Yesterday, NASA released new pictures which proved the reports of Comet ISON’s burn-up was greatly exaggerated (apologies to Mark Twain).
Though NASA predicted that if it comes around the sun without breaking up, the comet will be visible in the Northern Hemisphere with the naked eye, particularly bright and beautiful, it is not to be. As the comet ISON pulled away from the sun, it first brightened and then faded, once again.
It now seems unlikely we will get more view of Comet ISON ever - for NASA Goddard’s Karl Battams via his Twitter feed @SunGrazerComets tweeted ‘I do think that something emerged from (its encounter) the Sun, but probably a very small nucleus or “rubble pile”, and I fear that may have now been dissolved” - its first and only forage into the solar system.
Watching that screen capture, you know what I think - it was not a comet at all, but the Silver Surfer!
:-D
Tags: comet-ison
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