'Comet of the century' nears Earth Forum: Spacesettlers
Thread: 'Comet of the century' nears Earth
# 13155 bysraj99@... on July 18, 2013, 1:03 p.m.
Member since 2021-10-03
About 10,000 years ago, Comet ISON left our solar system's distant shell, a
region known as the Oort cloud, and began streaking toward the sun. This
November, the icy wanderer will reach the climax of its journey,
potentially providing a stunning skywatching show here on Earth.
last September by two Russian amateur astronomers. Scientists have since
recognized ISON as a possible "comet of the century," but to live up to its
promise, it will have to survive its dangerous perihelion, or closest
approach to the sun.
ISON is what's known as a sungrazing
comet.
These
suicidal objects have orbits that bring them within 850,000 miles of the
sun, and scientists estimate that ISON's closest pass will be about 730,000
miles above the surface of Earth's star.
Read more:
http://www.foxnews.com/science/2013/07/18/comet-century-comet-ison-faces-risky-road/#ixzz2ZOyAKxA7