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canetoad

(17,225 posts)

8. You may have seen a comet

Wed Apr 17, 2024, 01:35 AM

Apr 17

Explosive green 'Mother of Dragons' comet now visible in the Northern Hemisphere

The green comet 12P/Pons-Brooks is now visible in the night sky in North America. Here's how to see it.

A rare, formerly-horned comet that astronomers have dubbed the "Mother of Dragons" is now visible after dusk in the Northern Hemisphere.

This "Halley-type" comet, officially known as Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks, completes a single orbit around the sun once every 71 years. The last time it passed by Earth was in 1954, according to a statement from the European Space Agency (ESA).

The city-size comet has a nucleus measuring 10.5 miles (17 kilometers) wide and orbits the sun in an elliptical shape. Recent observations of the comet have revealed a hidden spiral of light surrounding its frigid heart.

Like most comets, 12P/Pons-Brooks is composed of ice, dust and rock and its head also has a green appearance. This is due to comets containing diatomic carbon molecules — duos of carbon atoms stuck together — that emit emerald light when exposed to the sun.

https://www.livescience.com/space/comets/explosive-green-mother-of-dragons-comet-now-visible-in-the-northern-hemisphere

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Possible Meteor sighting in San Diego - [View all] haele Apr 16 OP

Report what you saw! usonian Apr 16 #1

Eight reports in Southern CA, and AZ all around 8 pm LeftInTX Apr 17 #2

It was also seen in Nevada and Colorado. haele Apr 17 #4

Someone caught it on camera! LeftInTX Apr 17 #3

Wow, a fireball. usonian Apr 17 #5

Wow. Terrific. PCIntern Apr 17 #13

That was huge! RKP5637 Apr 17 #26

It was green. That sounds like the Romulans. Their ships are green. chouchou Apr 17 #6

Maybe Donny Boy should RipVanWinkle Apr 17 #7

Ya...and laced with bleach. (Since Donnie loves that so much). chouchou Apr 17 #21

You may have seen a comet canetoad Apr 17 #8

No, comets don't appear to be moving except over a period of days William Seger Apr 17 #18

Thank you canetoad Apr 17 #24

Green meteors are burning nickel and magnesium William Seger Apr 17 #9

I've seen one too. It was a fairly large meteor LeftInTX Apr 17 #11

I just looked at Reddit and there are many reports BigmanPigman Apr 17 #10

Nope. They aren't predictable LeftInTX Apr 17 #12

Wow! It's odd seeing one when it is light outside. BigmanPigman Apr 17 #14

Yes, it did look like a missile! I have no idea if they could have predicted the Yucatan asteroid! LeftInTX Apr 17 #15

The one that hit Yucatan was 6+ miles wide BigmanPigman Apr 17 #17

What good would detecting it do? Polybius Apr 17 #20

That is why Hollywood is BS. BigmanPigman Apr 17 #25

I suppose there is a slight chance they could knock it off course Polybius Apr 18 #27

I feel badly for the animals and plants BigmanPigman Apr 18 #28

We would've seen Chicxulub coming Sympthsical Apr 17 #19

I remember seeing a fireball over my house once when I was a teen Tommy Carcetti Apr 17 #16

According to Phil Plait from Bad Astronomy, it was probably a Bollide.. haele Apr 17 #22

I saw a bright green one once in California MineralMan Apr 17 #23