05-07-2006, 08:21 PM
alternative talk websites are going bonkers over it.
what's the story beind the story.
look at historys channels weekly show line up. 'Comets Prophits of Doom'
http://www.historychannel.com/global/lis...timezone=1
http://www.newsleader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/...70307/1024
An old comet reappears and passes close to Earth later this month
Jack Wine
Stargazing
Comet Schwassmann/Wachmann 3 was first discovered May 2, 1930, in Germany by Arnold Schwassmann and Arno Arthur Wachmann. It orbits the sun every five years, however it was re-discovered in 1995. Prior to 1995, the comet was thought to have disappeared. This was only due to the intrinsic faintness and was not visible in telescopes during those years. On May 12, the comet will come within 7.3 million miles of Earth. This may seem extremely close, but there have been at least a dozen comets that have came closer to Earth.
The comet has crumbled into about 40 pieces. Two of the larger pieces should be visible in amateur telescopes. Just how bright the fragments will get is hard to say. You will probably need at least a pair of binoculars to view it. It's estimated that the largest piece may reach a fifth magnitude. From a very dark place, you might see it without any optical aid. On April 29, we were able to see fragment B from the Stokesville Observatory. It was first found with a pair of 15X100 binoculars. Then we were able to locate it with the observatory's telescope and in several of the club member's telescopes. At that time, we estimated the brightness of the coma was between a eighth and ninth magnitude.
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The comet has a very broad but faint tail. As the comet passes close to Earth, it will move rapidly across the sky. From night to night, you will notice its movement of about five degrees. The comet will be about half way between the constellations Hercules and Lyra May 7. It will pass very close to the ring nebula M57 in Lyra May 8. This should be an interesting sight in a telescope with a wide field of view and at a low power.From May 9-15, the comet will move from Lyra through Cygnus and into Pegasus. Mars in Gemini can still be seen low in the southwest evening sky. Saturn in Canis Major, which is well above Mars, is always a beautiful sight. Jupiter in Libra rises in the east about 9 p.m. Neptune in Capricornus breaks the eastern horizon at 3 a.m. followed by Uranus about one hour later.
Venus in Pisces can be seen low in the east about one hour before sunrise. Mercury is lost in the sun's glare this month. Mars in Gemini can still be seen low in the southwest evening sky. Full moon occurs May 13 and new moon is May 27.
what's the story beind the story.
look at historys channels weekly show line up. 'Comets Prophits of Doom'
http://www.historychannel.com/global/lis...timezone=1
http://www.newsleader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/...70307/1024
An old comet reappears and passes close to Earth later this month
Jack Wine
Stargazing
Comet Schwassmann/Wachmann 3 was first discovered May 2, 1930, in Germany by Arnold Schwassmann and Arno Arthur Wachmann. It orbits the sun every five years, however it was re-discovered in 1995. Prior to 1995, the comet was thought to have disappeared. This was only due to the intrinsic faintness and was not visible in telescopes during those years. On May 12, the comet will come within 7.3 million miles of Earth. This may seem extremely close, but there have been at least a dozen comets that have came closer to Earth.
The comet has crumbled into about 40 pieces. Two of the larger pieces should be visible in amateur telescopes. Just how bright the fragments will get is hard to say. You will probably need at least a pair of binoculars to view it. It's estimated that the largest piece may reach a fifth magnitude. From a very dark place, you might see it without any optical aid. On April 29, we were able to see fragment B from the Stokesville Observatory. It was first found with a pair of 15X100 binoculars. Then we were able to locate it with the observatory's telescope and in several of the club member's telescopes. At that time, we estimated the brightness of the coma was between a eighth and ninth magnitude.
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The comet has a very broad but faint tail. As the comet passes close to Earth, it will move rapidly across the sky. From night to night, you will notice its movement of about five degrees. The comet will be about half way between the constellations Hercules and Lyra May 7. It will pass very close to the ring nebula M57 in Lyra May 8. This should be an interesting sight in a telescope with a wide field of view and at a low power.
Venus in Pisces can be seen low in the east about one hour before sunrise. Mercury is lost in the sun's glare this month. Mars in Gemini can still be seen low in the southwest evening sky. Full moon occurs May 13 and new moon is May 27.
