Signs of the Times. Wicked Weather.

Reporting the Signs of the Times, here is a bit on how drastically the weather is changing worldwide.  Due to these changes, you and your families need to prepare your home and your family in case of emergency.  Prepare your go-bags, bug-out bags, or 72 hour kits so that you can get out in a hurry, should you need to do so.  Also, prepare your food and water storage in case of contamination or shortage, among other emergencies.

Comet Elenin Gets Hit By A CME & Appears To Be Breaking Apart.

SO MUCH FOR DOOMSDAY: Comet Elenin (C/2010 X1), widely known for inaccurate reports of its threat to Earth, appears to be breaking apart. Observations by amateur astronomer Michael Mattiazzo of Castlemaine, Australia show a marked dimming and elongation of the comet's nucleus over a ten day period:

The behavior of Comet Elenin is akin to that of Comet LINEAR (C/1999 S4), which disintegrated when it approached the sun in back in 2000. Mattiazzo witnessed that event, too. "Yes I did observe the breakup of C/1999 S4 in July 2000," he recalls. "It was quite spectacular watching the nucleus spread out into a cigar shape over a period of days. The apparent breakup of C/2010 X1 is similar, although less visually spectacular."
Comets are fragile objects, easily disrupted by solar heat. As a result, the possible breakup of Comet Elenin, while unexpected, comes as no surprise. Readers with pertinent images are invited to submit them here.

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http://spaceweather.com/

CME 0036: three days before collsion with comet Elenin

August 27th, 2011 | Author: Leonid Elenin

Coronal mass ejections, which will collide with comet Elenin three days later. This images taken by coronagraphs COR2, which installed on the STEREO spacecrafts.

Interaction between comet Elenin and coronal mass ejection from the Sun

August 24th, 2011 | Author: Leonid Elenin

August 19, STEREO-B spacecraft has catched a very interesting event – the interaction of the gas coma of comet Elenin and coronal mass ejections from the Sun. On the video we can clearly see dynamics of the cometary tail, which squirming under the influence of powerful pressure of solar wind. After a brief increase, the brightness of the comet began to decreasing within a few days and reached a level of brightness that the comet was in early August.

The real truth about comet Elenin

August 23rd, 2011 | Author: Leonid Elenin

Posted in News | Tags: C/2010 X1 (Elenin), Comet, Comet Elenin, Комета, Комета Еленина | 83 Comments

The long ion tail observed behind the comet Elenin

August 21st, 2011 | Author: Leonid Elenin

T. Lovejoy

On the picture taken by the well-known Australian astronomy amateur, Terry Lovejoy, which discovered his comet in 2007, is clearly visible long and thin ion tail stretching almost one degree! Which corresponds to the length of the tail is more than 3,000,000 km! Although this is not a record, the sodium tail of comet Hale-Bopp had a length of nearly 50 million kilometers! Comet Elenin will pass closest to the Earth on October 16 at distance about 35 million kilometers from our planet.

The diameter of the comet Elenin’s coma confirmed by visual observations from the Earth

August 20th, 2011 | Author: Leonid Elenin

M. Mattiazzo

My estimate the size of the comet Elenin coma was confirmed by visual observations of an experienced Australian amateur astronomer Michael Mattiazzo. August 19, he estimated the angular size of the coma as 4 arc minutes, which equal to  213,500 km in the linear size. The image of the comet, taken by Michael, on August 19 as you can see on the left and on own author’s site.

I remind, that in the next few days,  we have chances to see the comet C/2010 X1 (Elenin) in the coronagraph COR2 field of view, which mounted on the STEREO spacecrafts.

http://spaceobs.org/en/news/

Comet Elenin Could Be Disintegrating

by Nancy Atkinson on August 29, 2011

C/2010 X1 Elenin, on Aug 29, 2011. Credit: Michael Mattiazzo. Used by permission

Astronomers monitoring Comet Elenin have noticed the comet has decreased in brightness the past week, and the coma is now elongating and diffusing. Some astronomers predict the comet will disintegrate and not survive perihelion, its closest approach to the Sun.

On August 19, a massive solar flare and coronal mass ejection hit the comet, which may have been the beginning of the end for the much ballyhooed lump of ice and dirt.

Comet Elenin as seenby the STEREO HI1-B on Aug. 6, 2011, from about 7 million kilometers from the spacecraft. Credit: NASA/STEREO

“We’ve been following it in the STEREO spacecraft images and a number of amateurs have been following it in their telescopes,” said Australian amateur astronomer Ian Musgrave, author of the Astroblog website. “Shortly after the coronal mass ejection the comet flared up and you could see some beautiful details in the tail, with the tail was twisting about in the solar wind. But shortly after that Earth- bound amateurs reported a huge decrease in the intensity of the comet. We think it may presage a falling apart of the comet.”

One journalist joked that maybe Comet Elenin just couldn’t take all the doomsday talk and publicity.
“It really has been a beautiful little comet and it deserves a better fate than to be overhyped by doom-sayers,” said Musgrave.

Elenin is a long period comet originating from the outer edges of our solar system, and Musgrave noted that comets coming from the Oort cloud which are making their first pass through the solar system tend to be under-performers in terms of brightness. “They don’t brighten as quickly as comets that come around more than once,” he said, “and in looking at the relationship between the brightness and the distance from the Sun, we find empirically that comets that brighten on roughly the same speed as Elenin tend to be likely to fall apart at perihelion.”

However, Musgrave added, each comet is unique. “Some comets will survive and some won’t. The fact that this comet decreased in brightness after the CME, possibly indicates that the comet will not survive. Another possibility is that merely the CME wiped away the coma — the bright cloud of particles around the comet — and the volatiles of the comet might take awhile to come back and recreate the coma, if it does survive.”

Elenin’s mass is smaller than average and its trajectory will take it no closer than 34 million km (21 million miles) of Earth as it circles the Sun. It will make its closest approach to Earth on October 16th, but be closest to the Sun on Sept. 10.

Animation of 5 images taken Aug 19,22,23,27,29 displaying the nucleus of Comet Elenin in the process of disintegrating. Credit: Michael Mattiazzo. Used by permission

Another Australian amateur Michael Mattiazzo has been taking images of the comet (see his website, Southern Comets) and he has noticed that the nucleus appears to be elongating. When that occurs, usually the comet disintegrates or splits apart. Above is an animation Mattiazzo created from images he took of Comet Elenin on August 19, 22, 23, 27 & 29.

You can see a wide-field view of the comet by astrophotographer Rob Kaufmanns, comparing the view from August 19, 23 and 26 at this link.

A similar process took place just a few weeks ago with another comet, 213P Van Ness.
Do comets break apart often?

“You don’t see it it that often, but it happens surprisingly more than people think,” Musgrave said. “Van Ness just happened, but ever couple of years there is a comet that visibly breaks up into fragments, maybe about 6 comets in the last 10 years — excluding the Kreutz-sun-grazer family of comets which split and vaporize on a regular basis.”

A closeup photo of the breakup of Comet S4 LINEAR taken on August 6, 2000 by the European Very Large Telescope (VLT) in Chile. Credit: ESO

Unfortunately, the likely demise of Comet Elenin hasn’t put a lid on the doomsdayers who have predicted earthquakes or three days of darkness or a collision with Earth.

“The doomsdayers are just saying that more bad things will happen!” laughed Musgrave. “But you have to remember that when a comet breaks up, the fragments stay in the same orbit. If it evaporates, you’ll have a mass of rubble and gas on the same orbit. People don’t seem to get that space is big, really big, and when a comet breaks up it follows Newtons Laws and the fragments will slowly draw apart, but over the timescale that we see them, the difference will be so miniscule.”

Sources: Conversation with Ian Musgrave, Astroblog, AstroBob, Southern Comets, STEREO
http://www.universetoday.com/88494/comet-elenin-could-be-disintigrating/ 

Comet double feature: Comets Elenin & Garradd now showing in night sky

Some comets are like old friends, they keep coming back at regular intervals to visit. These are called periodic comets; Comet Halley was the first such comet to be identified, by Edmond Halley back in 1705. It returns to the inner solar system every 75 to 76 years; its last appearance was in 1986 and its next will be in 2061. At present Halley is out just beyond Neptune’s orbit. Other comets are one-time visitors: they come in to visit us from the Oort Cloud, warm themselves for a few months by the sun, and then head back out to the farthest reaches of the solar system. There two comets currently visiting the inner solar system — comet Elenin and comet Garradd — so the next two months will provide some excellent opportunities to observe these unusual visitors.  All comets share one characteristic: they are like "dirty snowballs" in their makeup. Their nucleus of rock and ice, when warmed by the sun, sheds its ice which forms a graceful tail as it’s swept away by the solar wind. Because it’s the solar wind that drives the gas and vapor away, comet’s tails always point away from the sun. In the sky, many comets appear like ghostly fingers pointing down towards Earth. That is one reason why comets have traditionally been viewed as harbingers of death and disaster.  ... The truth about Comet Elenin is that it is a quite ordinary, fairly small comet discovered on Dec. 10, 2010 by Russian amateur astronomer Leonid Elenin using a remote controlled telescope in Arizona. This comet will pass closest to the sun on Sept. 10 (45 million miles or 72 million kilometers) and closest to Earth on Oct. 16 at a distance of 22 million miles (35 million km.) Despite the fact that this is a really tiny body, 3 or 4 km. in diameter which will miss the Earth by 22 million miles, the purveyors of gloom and doom have seized upon it as bringing disaster upon the Earth. Please don’t take them seriously, instead try to spot this interesting little object. At present, comet Elenin is too close to the sun to be viewed from the Northern Hemisphere, though observers south of the equator may catch it low in the western sky after sunset.  Northern observers' turn will come after the comet passes the sun and starts back out towards the Oort Cloud. In the last few days of September, Elenin will separate from the sun in our morning sky. It will be visible in binoculars in the morning sky for all of October, and we will publish finder maps then.         ----Unusual opportunity to observe this comet  .... (Source: Space.com)

http://tehrantimes.com/index.php/science/2041-comet-double-feature-comets-elenin-a-garradd-now-showing-in-night-sky-

Comet Garradd C/2009 P1 Crossing M71 Globular Cluster in Sagitta Video

by Tammy Plotner on August 29, 2011

Comet Garradd Passes M71 Credit: John Chumack

For the observing weekend warriors, the last few days have been a very exciting time. Not only have we been treated to a supernova event in Messier 101, but we’ve had the opportunity to watch Comet C/2009 P1 Garradd silently slip by Messier 71! Wish you were there? Step inside and you can be…



A few days ago we brought you a “live” broadcast of the comet thanks to Bareket Observatory. Thousands of UT readers had the opportunity to view and enjoy for a full six hours and – thankfully – the weather cooperated. Want to see the results? You can check out the comet video here.

On Friday, August 27th, comet Garradd had another “picturesque” moment… It swept by an often over-looked Messier object – M71.

But it didn’t pass by John Chumack!



At a distance of 1.402 AU from Earth and 2.193 AU from the Sun, Comet Garradd continues to brighten and will reach perihelion on December 23, 2011. ..
Many thanks to John Chumack of Galactic Images for sharing this incredible video with us!
http://www.universetoday.com/88500/comet-garradd-c2009-p1-crossing-m71-globular-cluster-in-sagitta-video/

What if you lost electricity, water, ability to get to the grocery store, etc? Are you prepared? Do you have a 72 hour kit for each member of your household?

What would you do if there was an outage of electricity, shortage of water, inability to get food from the store, shortage on gas, or other emergency?  You ask "what would cause these issues" and I reply with a list...
Solar Flare
Geomagnetic Storm
Earthquake
Hurricane
Volcanic Eruption
Asteroid Impact
Going through the tail of Comet Elenin
Etc.


In any case, what have you prepared for?  We have discussed water storage in past posts.  Here is what you should be doing for every member of your household in the case of possible evacuation...

Here is another checklist for your 72hour kits...

by Work It, Mom! Team  |  11227 views  |  1 comment  |      Rate this now! 

Working moms are always short on time. Our lists make things a little easier -- just print and you're good to go! According to the Red Cross, the best way to make sure your family and home are safe is to be prepared before an emergency occurs.

Here is a synopsis of what they recommend you have on hand for a three-day emergency situation -- one where you are stranded in your own home with no transportation or utilities. For a more detailed list of what to keep in your kit, or for more information on how to store your kit or what else you can do to be prepared, go to the Red Cross's "Prepare at Home" page; also, be sure to read up on what people who have actually lived through disaster situations (like Hurricane Katrina) do to stay prepared, and take a moment to check out the suggestions at Ready.gov.

Food and Water:

1. One gallon of water per person
2. Water purification tablets or plain bleach
3. Protein bars
4. Canned meats and fish
5. Dried fruit
6. Nuts
7. Instant Soup packets or boullion cubes
8. Dry cereal
9. Crackers
10. Peanut butter
11. Canned juice or juice boxes
12. Baby formula
13. Bottles and sippy cups
14. Non-electric can opener
15. Non-electric bottle opener (for puncturing juice cans)

Bedding and Clothing:

1. Complete change of seasonally appropriate clothing, including socks, sturdy shoes or work boots, and underwear for each person
2. Thermal underwear
3. Sunglasses
4. Prescription glasses
5. Waterproof poncho
6. Waterproof tablecloth (to use as tarp or floor covering)
7. Light blanket
8. Sleeping bag or heavy blanket
9. Inflatable pillow
10. Towels
11. Work gloves

Sanitation and Medication

1. First Aid Kit with gauze, bandages, tweezers, medical tape, and alcohol pads
2. Anti-bacterial ointment
3. Saline solution (for washing dust out of eyes)
4. Toilet Paper
5. Baby wipes
6. Diapers
7. Hand Sanitizer
8. Dish Soap
9. Prescription medication (and copies of prescriptions)
10. Over-the-counter medications
11. Anti-diarrheal pills
12. Antacid tablets
13. Sanitary pads (good for covering wounds as well)
14. Activated charcoal

Equipment:

1. Flashlights
2. Extra batteries

3. Glow sticks
4. Long-burning candles
5. Waterproof matches
6. Hand/body warmers or "heat patches"
7. Sterno (fuel for camp stove)
8. Camp stove
9. Metal cooking pot
10. Mess kit (reusable dishes, cups, utensils)
11. Hand crank radio
12. Pens
13. Pencils
14. Paper
15. Pocket knife or "Leatherman" multipurpose tool
16. Pliers
17. Small fire extinguisher
18. Rope (50 feet long)
19. Plastic garbage bags
20. Duct tape
21. Aluminum foil
22. Zip-top storage bags
23. Compass
24. Whistle
25. Deck of cards, small games, books

Documentation and money (place in waterproof container)

1. Cash
2. Emergency credit card
3. Emergency debit card
4. Local map (to find shelters)
5. General road map (for possible evacuation)
6. Copy of Emergency Evacuation plan
7. Immunication records
8. Medical and Dental records
9. Major financial records (deeds, titles)
10. Notarized copies of birth certificate
11. Notarized copy of marriage certificate
12. Photocopy of passport
13. List of important phone numbers and emergency contacts, both in and out of state
14. Copy of bank and mortgage account numbers and contact info
15. Copy of insurance policies (homeowners, auto, life, health) and contact info
16. Copy of investment account numbers and contact info
17. Copy of serial numbers for needed medical devices and manufacturer's contact info

http://www.workitmom.com/checklists/detail/4237

Here is another example of a 72 hour kit...

How to Build a 72-hour Kit

Who knew that a garbage can could hold things you might actually want?

Taking a few moments to fill up a clean garbage can with emergency supplies could save the lives of you and your loved ones.

Download this Basic Emergency Checklist [from 3Days3Ways.org]

[This requires a PDF reader. Download one from Adobe]

You can also buy a kit from the Red Cross.

http://www.pdxprepared.net/72hour.php

Here is another example of a 72 hour kit.

72 Hour Emergency Kit Checklist

Every family should have an emergency kit prepared in case of natural disaster.  Emergency kits should be practical and be able to accommodate all family members for a minimum of 72 hrs.

Items to include in your emergency kit should include basic items such as food and water, bedding and clothing, fuel and light, equipment, personal supplies and medication, and personal documents and money.    Here is a complete list of items for each category.

Food and Water

• High Calorie Mayday Food Bars with Five Year Shelf Life
• Energy/Granola Bars
• Canned foods such beans, tuna, potted meat
• Can Opener
• Water (minimum 1 gallon per person/per day)
• Crackers/Cereal

Bedding and Clothing

• 1 Change of clothing per person (including undergarments)
• Rain Coat/Poncho/Warm Weather Gear
• Extra Blanket/Sleeping Bags/Solar Blankets

Fuel and Light

• Flashlight/Lantern
• Extra Batteries (Alkaline and Lithium for longer life)
• Flares
• Candles
• Lighter/Waterproof Matches/Fire Starter

Equipment

• Eating Utensils/Dishes (Camping Set)
• Shovel
• AM/FM Radio (Dynamo, Solar Operated Ideal)
• Pen and Paper
• Small Axe
• Multipurpose Tool (Leatherman)
• Nylon Rope
• Duct Tape

Personal Supplies and Medication

• First Aid Kit
• Basic Toiletries (toilet paper, toothbrush, feminine products)
• Hand Sanitizer/Antibacterial Soap
• Shot Records
• Analgesics (Tylenol)
• Prescription Medication (minimum 3 day supply/14 day recommended)

Personal Documents and Money

• Legal Document (home and vehicle titles, marriage and birth certificates, insurance policies)
• Cash (small bills and coins)
• Credit Cards
• Pre-Paid Phone Cards
• Other Documents (as deemed necessary)

Emergency kits should be kept in waterproof containers, backpacks, bags, etc. and should be easy to carry.  The items should be checked every six months and rotated as necessary.  If you have pets and/or small children then make sure to include additional items such as pet food, diapers, formula, etc. are included in your kit as well

http://www.survival-goods.com/72_Hour_Emergency_Kit_Checklist_s/156.htm