Comet now emitting X-rays

Thank you.

What do you mean "now" emitting X-Rays?

It always was, and it isn't the first comet to have been observed doing this. In fact it's quite likely that ALL comets produce X-Rays.

"The closest approach of [Fragment C's] orbit to the Earth, 0.04 astronomical unit, occurs on May 22 at 20:00 UT. Thus the maximum of the meteor shower would be on May 22 or May 23, with a radiant of right ascension 208° [13h 52m] and declination +30° [in Canes Venatici, 12° north-northwest of Arcturus], and a geocentric velocity of 13.5 km/sec, which is quite slow." Unlike with many meteor showers, this radiant is highest in the sky as early in the night as 11 p.m. daylight saving time — so the meteors would be visible any time from dusk to dawn.''

[link to skyandtelescope.com]

Mole, why is this guy saying ''thus''? If C is passing so far away from us, why would we be seeing meteors from it on the same night as it's closest pass to us?

If small particles can stray so far from the parent object, could larger ones?

"If small particles can stray so far from the parent object, could larger ones?"

No, he's talking about a possible meteor shower from dust emitted during previous orbits, and scattered out along the comet's path.

The paragraph above the one you quote makes it clearer :-

"Jack Drummond of the Starfire Optical Range predicts that debris previously shed by the comet could bring us a meteor shower on the night of May 22–23."

However the chances of a good show are pretty small, as this hasn't historically been a very active shower. It has been known about for some time though.

I just found his use of the word thus strange, that's all! He seems to be linking the meteor shower with the passing of C.

"I just found his use of the word thus strange, that's all! He seems to be linking the meteor shower with the passing of C."

I'd have to check the orbital parameters for the comet from before it broke up, but possibly fragment C is closest to that original orbit, and we'll therefore be closest to the dust stream at the time we're closest to it.

Meteor shower analysis and prediction is quite a complicated business, and I don't really know a great deal about it. I do know that the dust streams are concentrated along the orbits of the comets (obviously) but that there are several things that affect their movement and spread, and they also precess, making some showers good, and others almost non-existent.

thanks Mole!

Earth will pass through the fringes of the comet's trail, producing a very small meteor shower from 19 May to 19 June. The celestial show may be better in 2022, when Earth is expected to make a more direct pass through the debris trail.

from new Scientist

Now we are gonig to get a meteor shower.

You know Molesworth I aint a big prophecy type but I remember somthing about will hit earth that we will not see.

thebalance999

Anonymous Coward
User ID: 93890
5/15/2006 9:34 PM

wow I hope not iron boulders

Sounds destructive

thebalance999