BREAKING: Approaching Unidentified Object! December 7, 2012 STAY TUNED!

So, why does it sound scary then, if you have no idea what you're looking at?

Do you WANT to be scared?

[link to screencast-o-matic.com]

Here is a link to a short vid I did with the jpl model

Doesn't work for me, it says Java is disabled in my browser, but it's not. I checked my Java version and it's up to date and working correctly on the Java website.

Dang, mine asked if I wanted to run java on this site and I said yes. Dr. Astro, I hope you get it working because I'd love your thoughts on this video.

Hum, works for me.

Your thoughts?

According to this model the 'comet' is coming from a different angle, if looking at it from telescope "B". Especially in relation to Jupiter.

Ok, so now we have it..fantastic! Seems to be this comet may be Pons-Gambert last seen around here in 1827..but that is controversial right now so they are still not naming it.

Does not appear from what i have read to be much of a show but should reach Perihelion this month before the new year.

The controversy being that it does not appear to be where it is supposed to be for this comet, however some are saying that the comet may have had contact with another body in space or partially broke apart at some point in time since it left our neighborhood.

Glad to see Astro made it on.

I still don't get how the approach matches 2012v4 ... but I bow to the more knowledgeable. However, I will most certainly look for new info from NASA, since at this time, they are my only eyes.

Drop the link into IE instead of Mozilla. It worked for me there.

Link works for me.

Sorry, it is the stereo "b" spacecraft, as per suspiciousobserver's video, that I meant.

Thanks, now I see it. It's a good demonstration to show how the comet is seen coming up towards the ecliptic at a steep angle due to its inclination, but it's still a bit hard to directly correlate from that because it doesn't show you which stars are in the background and it doesn't let you put the camera at the exact spot of STEREO Behind. That's not your fault Mrc, it's just a limitation of the java applet. I would strongly recommmend Celestia as a tool to do this sort of thing. It's free and you can easily add the orbits of STEREO Behind as well as C/2012 V4 into the simulation and show how their positions relate to each other, the planets, and the stars.

Awesome thread

Totally agree!!!

All the meaning around 21th December, is about THIS OBJECT. You'll see.

[link to www.shatters.net]

Nice ... looks like this could blow Stellarium away ...

Could it be Pons-Gambart?

Reincarnated now as comet C/2012 V4, it reaches perihelion, the point in its orbit closest to the sun, on Dec. 18 at a distance of about 75 million miles. Astronomer Rob McNaught described its appearance as a “spring onion” with bright fuzzy core and short spike of a tail to the northeast.

Based on the present return date, we can figure Pons-Gambart’s period at about 62 years. After discovery in 1827, its appearances in 1889 and 1951 were missed, but thanks to space-based cameras and Matson’s keen eye, this time the comet didn’t get away.

[link to astrobob.areavoices.com]

it's coming!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

RETARDS! i'm so fed up with this bullshit

Different tools for different jobs. Celestia has its limitations as well, but it's very good for identifying objects in STEREO images because you can view the constellations and solar system from any arbitrary location, direction, and field of view. I made a little video with it just now to show the true situation with this comet and the STEREO images. I'll post the link as soon as it's uploaded.

An AU is an Astronomical Unit...

The average distance from Earth to the Sun...

which is just under 100 million miles...

That is pretty neat!

Ahhh, thank you! Great explanation!

Thank you Astro!

That was great and appreciated!

Update new video from nasa of solar flare expected to hit sometime tommorow.

[link to www.youtube.com]

I guess I do have addiction...to fear...:-) Probably why I'm having a Scary Movie Marathon at this very moment.

Forget Comet c/2012 V4 Pons-Gambart!. Watch For Approaching NEO 2012DA14!