The Briefing Room
General Category => Science, Technology and Knowledge => Space => Topic started by: Kamaji on January 10, 2023, 03:13:52 pm
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Green comet to become visible for first time in 50,000 years
By Chloe Whelan, News.com.au
January 10, 2023
A bright green comet will appear in the night skies above Earth, visible for the first time in 50,000 years.
The recently discovered comet, which was given the catchy name C/2022 E3 (ZTF), will soar its closest to the sun on Jan. 12, and will become visible in the Northern Hemisphere in the morning sky.
In Australia, though, it will become visible from early February as it makes its closest pass by Earth on Feb. 2 when it will be a mere 42 million kilometers away.
Comets can be distinguished from stars by their streaking tails of dust and energized particles – which will cause this one to glow bright green. The glow is caused by an envelope that firms around the comet as it passed by the sun and its icy exterior instantly turns into gas.
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Source: https://nypost.com/2023/01/10/green-comet-to-become-visible-for-first-time-in-50000-years/
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:bkmk:
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Ominous... As in omen.
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So it's orbit is elliptical?
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So it's orbit is elliptical?
Most comets have elliptical orbits.
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Most comets have elliptical orbits.
Some do not. Like Kohoutek, for example. And the periods of elliptical orbits can vary greatly.
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Some do not. Like Kohoutek, for example. And the periods of elliptical orbits can vary greatly.
Hence the word "most".
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Some do not. Like Kohoutek, for example. And the periods of elliptical orbits can vary greatly.
Well, according to one source, the orbit is an open parabola: https://purneauniversity.org/comet-c-2022-e3-ztf-location/#:~:text=Comet%20C%2F2022%20E3%20ZTF%20Orbit,-To%20know%20about&text=It%20will%20reach%20the%20perihelion,and%20never%20be%20back%20again.
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Hence the word "most".
Hence the word "some". I just find it fascinating that a comet will visit us again in 50,000 years, so that if I am still around, I can look out for it.