Comet Elenin Predicted to Pass a Stone's Throw Away from Earth |
| By Ron G Anselm |
As we all know over the past few months we have had a lot of out of the ordinary things in science happen. First the Tsunami and earthquake that hit Japan and set off a scare that their damaged nuclear facilities could leak enough radiation that would make the Three-Mile Island nuclear disaster that happened in 1980 look like a puddle of spilled water, we have had the out of the ordinary storms that have pummeled the South and now a little comet by the name of Elenin " has taken a left turn out of its normal orbit and has taken more of a direct route toward Earth.
This little comet was first discovered Leonin Elenin who is an observer in Lyubertsy, Russia who first spotted the comet using the ISON-MM Observatory near Mayhill, New Mexico. The scientific name for this comet is C/2010 X1.
When the comet was first spotted about four months ago it was around 401 million miles from Earth. Now the little comet has closed the gap a little closer to Earth and is now around 274 million miles away as it stays on the course towards perihelion which is the closest point to the sun.
If anyone has ever studied comets this is really what they do. They start out on a course and change their course frequently has they speed through the star lit galaxies like a glowing snow ball. This is really a normal thing for any comet to do. Don Yeoman who works for NASA`s Near-Earth Objects Program Office stated, "That is what happens with these long-period comets that come in from way outside our planetary system, "They make these long, majestic, speedy arcs through our solar system, and sometimes they put on a great show. But not Elenin. Right now that comet looks kind of wimpy." (ScienceDaily.com)
When NASA talks about and defines the term wimpiness " they are referring to what a comet may or will look like as it passes by us. Elenin has not raised any eyebrows yet from NASA. It is so far a relatively small comet that would probably not inflict anymore damaged to anything it may impact than if you threw a rock through your neighbors window. Of course you can never be too sure of the size of any comet because you are looking at them through a telescope million of miles away so scientist normally chart the path of comets and keep an eye on them until they pass by us and our planet is out of harms way.
It just makes you wonder with everything we have seen over the past few months and now we have a comet inching closer to a collision course with Earth. And you have the 2012 phenomenon of the Mayan Calendar ending and all the hype that the end of time could happen. What could be next?
Comet Elenin is expected to be nothing more that a backyard cookout show when it passes Earth at its closest point on October 16 of this year. Since it is passing from the other end of the spectrum in our solar system you will probably need a very good pair of binoculars, a remote out of the way and dark location to even get a glimpse of the comet as it zooms by the horizon which at that time the comet will be about 22 million miles away.
Even though this is a small comet and is not expected to demolish our planet if it did collide with us, NASA is still looking at every avenue or effect the comet could have on our planet since it is passing by us at a very close distance. Some of the questions that are being look at are can this icy interloper influence us from where it is, or where it will be in the future? What about this celestial object inspiring some shifting of the tides or even tectonic plates here on Earth? (ScienceDaily.com)
Comet Elenin Will NOT Destroy Earth, I Repeat…
Every now and again I am a little embarrassed to be part of the ufology and ancient astronaut theory crowd. Honestly, there are some real kooks out there that will come up with the wildest stories and lately, one of them, is that Comet Elenin (a.k.a. C2010 X1), a comet set to pass Earth in October, is somehow going to bring about earthquakes, tidal shifts, maybe even the end of the world depending on which wacko you believe.Whenever I read these things, I always wonder for just a moment but then I immediately find myself trying to get to the source of it all. Frankly, in spite of all the conspiracy theories I believe in, I think the scientists involved in the field would have their reasons for not telling us, i.e. they don’t want to cause a panic with something that can be and probably will be diverted, or there really is no cause for alarm which is the case WAY more often than not.
Yes, big things have come barreling through our atmosphere before and you never know when a meteor is going to come falling out of the sky but facts are facts and there are a number of experts trying to put these rumors to bed. For instance, Discovery Science says that trajectory places it at about 21 million miles from Earth (more than 80 times farther away than the moon) at it’s closest pass and considering the minuscule size of the object it will have the equivalent effect on earth as a mosquito would if it hit head on with a ocean cruiser. In case you didn’t catch that, it won’t have ANY effect on Earth. It’s not going to slam into us, it’s not Nibiru, it’s not inhabited, it’s not the fulfillment of a Mayan prophecy, none of that. Even the closest fly-by’s of other comets haven’t created natural disasters historically and this one will be much farther away than many have been.
If you seem to think otherwise, I’d be glad to hear why, but I can’t promise I’ll take you seriously.http://paranormalutopia.com/2011/05/comet-elenin-will-not-destroy-earth-i-repeat511/
| Web Abuzz over Elenin Comet and Object(s) Following it |
| Monday, 09 May 2011 | ||
| The internet is abuzz over new reports in regards to the Elenin Comet which is headed towards Earth, but more so of what is behind it... Astronomical Research in Missions, said that behind the Elenin comet could be an UFO approaching. "Behind the comet, discovered in December last year, Chinese scientists say there is a phenomenon, something they called cluster, which means globular cluster, or perhaps alien spacecraft," said Toscano. According to the report quoting the astronomer mission, the space body would be found in the comet's tail and was analyzed after the mysterious signals that came off of an unknown "strange and obscure" formation. In the words of Toscano, the Chinese have said that the spacecraft is stationed in the same place for ninety days, "before that looked like it was coming from an extraterrestrial civilization," said the Argentine scientist. According to the Daily Chronicle, this phenomenon was corroborated by Rosie Redfiel, the new director of the Program of NASA's Astrobiology. "But when NASA began to make calculations and projections of comet's orbit, they realized that something was wrong and the first thing they did was remove the website which provided information on this issue," said Toscano. http://macedoniaonline.eu/content/view/18123/56/ Wimpy comet to visitsolar system soonThe comet Elenin, first discovered last fall, will be making avisit to the inner solar system and near Earth soon.By Space.com Tue, May 10 2011 at 12:28 PM EST Photo: NASA A comet first discovered just six months ago will be making a visit to the inner solar system soon, but don't expect to be completely dazzled. This comet is a bit of a wimp, NASA says. Comet Elenin (also known by its astronomical name C/2010 X1), was first detected on Dec. 10, 2010 by Leonid Elenin, an observer in Lyubertsy, Russia, who found the comet while using the remote-controlled ISON-NM observatory near Mayhill, New Mexico. At the time of its discovery, the comet was about 401 million miles (647 million kilometers) from Earth. Over the past 4 1/2 months, the comet has closed the distance to Earth's vicinity as it makes its way closer to perihelion (its closest point to the sun). As of May 4, Comet Elenin's distance is about 170 million miles (274 million km). "That is what happens with these long-period comets that come in from way outside our planetary system," said Don Yeomans of NASA's Near-Earth Object Program Office at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif., in a statement. "They make these long, majestic, speedy arcs through our solar system, and sometimes they put on a great show. But not Elenin. Right now that comet looks kind of wimpy." The comet doesn't offer much of a view and is quite dim to behold. [Video: Where Comets Come From] "We're talking about how a comet looks as it safely flies past us," said Yeomans. "Some cometary visitors arriving from beyond the planetary region — like Hale-Bopp in 1997 — have really lit up the night sky where you can see them easily with the naked eye as they safely transit the inner-solar system. But Elenin is trending toward the other end of the spectrum. You'll probably need a good pair of binoculars, clear skies, and a dark, secluded location to see it even on its brightest night." Comet Elenin, an icy run Comet Elenin should be at its brightest shortly before the time of its closest approach to Earth on Oct. 16 of this year. At its closest point, it will be 22 million miles (35 million km) from us. Even at such a distance, the comet will not be able to shift tides or tectonic plates here on Earth, as some internet rumors have suggested. Some have even wondered if the comet could possibly be pushed closer to Earth than usual. "Comet Elenin will not encounter any dark bodies that could perturb its orbit, nor will it influence us in any way here on Earth," said Yeomans. "It will get no closer to Earth than 35 million kilometers." Not only is Elenin far away, but it is also on the small side for comets, said Yeomans. "So you've got a modest-sized icy dirtball that is getting no closer than 35 million kilometers," said Yeomans. "It will have an immeasurably miniscule influence on our planet. By comparison, my subcompact automobile exerts a greater influence on the ocean's tides than comet Elenin ever will." Fall's cosmic comet show But just because the comet won't change much here on Earth doesn't mean skywatchers shouldn't pay attention. "This comet may not put on a great show. Just as certainly, it will not cause any disruptions here on Earth. But there is a cause to marvel," said Yeomans. "This intrepid little traveler will offer astronomers a chance to study a relatively young comet that came here from well beyond our solar system's planetary region. After a short while, it will be headed back out again, and we will not see or hear from Elenin for thousands of years. That's pretty cool." NASA detects, tracks and characterizes asteroids and comets passing relatively close to Earth using both ground- and space-based telescopes. The agency's Near-Earth Object Observations Program, commonly called "Spaceguard," discovers these objects, characterizes a subset of them, and predicts their paths to determine if any could be potentially hazardous to our planet. Comet Elenin to Come Close to Earth this FallMay 9, 2011; 10:05 AM ETComet Elenin is coming to the inner-solar system this fall. Comet Elenin (also known by its astronomical name C/2010 X1) was first detected on Dec. 10, 2010, by Leonid Elenin, an observer in Lyubertsy, Russia, who made the discovery "remotely" using the ISON-NM observatory near Mayhill, N.M. At the time of the discovery, the comet was about 647 million km (401 million miles) from Earth. Over the past four and a half months, the comet has closed the distance to Earth's vicinity as it makes its way closer to perihelion. As of May 4, Elenin's distance is about 274 million km (170 million miles). "That is what happens with these long-period comets that come in from way outside our planetary system," said Don Yeomans of NASA's Near-Earth Object Program Office at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif. "They make these long, majestic, speedy arcs through our solar system, and sometimes they put on a great show. But not Elenin. Right now that comet looks kind of wimpy." Comet Elenin should be at its brightest shortly before the time of its closest approach to Earth on Oct. 16 of this year. At its closest point, it will be 35 million km (22 million miles) from us. Can this icy invader influence us from where it will be this fall? What about this celestial object inspiring some shifting of the tides or even tectonic plates here on Earth? There have been some incorrect Internet speculations that external forces could cause comet Elenin to come closer. "Comet Elenin will not encounter any dark bodies that could perturb its orbit, nor will it influence us in any way here on Earth," said Yeomans. "(Thus) It will get no closer to Earth than 35 million kilometers [about 22 million miles]. Comet Elenin will not only be far away, it is also on the small side for comets," said Yeomans. "And comets are not the most densely-packed objects out there. They usually have the density of something akin to loosely packed icy dirt. So you've got a modest-sized icy dirtball that is getting no closer than 35 million kilometers. It will have an immeasurably miniscule influence on our planet. By comparison, my subcompact automobile exerts a greater influence on the ocean's tides than comet Elenin ever will." Even if this is the case, Yeomans added, "This intrepid little traveler will offer astronomers a chance to study a relatively young comet that came here from well beyond our solar system's planetary region. After a short while, it will be headed back out again, and we will not see or hear from Elenin for thousands of years. That's pretty cool."  NASA Simulation of Comet Elenin's Journehttp://www.accuweather.com/blogs/astronomy/story/49381/comet_elenin_to_come_close_to_earth_this_fall_1.asp | ||
