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Judi Lynn

(160,211 posts)
Mon Oct 1, 2012, 05:16 PM Oct 2012

Newly-Discovered Comet May Outshine The Moon

Newly-Discovered Comet May Outshine The Moon
2:37pm UK, Monday 01 October 2012

If a recently found comet lives up to expectation it could become "one of the brightest in history", says an astronomer.



A newly-discovered comet should become one of the brightest lights in the sky - even outshining the Moon, according to astronomers.

Russian astronomers recently spotted comet 2012 S1 (ISON) 90 million kilometres from the Earth, according to a report by National Geographic.

It is currently a faint glow streaking between Saturn and Jupiter, but as the Sun's gravity draws the comet closer, dust and ice will be blasted off, it giving it a highly-reflective tail.

Depending on how big the tails gets, the three-kilometre wide comet may become more visible for a few months in late 2013 and early 2014.

More:
http://news.sky.com/story/991654/newly-discovered-comet-may-outshine-the-moon

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Newly-Discovered Comet May Outshine The Moon (Original Post) Judi Lynn Oct 2012 OP
Of course we will only be able to see it if the Mayans were wrong about 12/2012 Vincardog Oct 2012 #1
Or other peoples' screwed-up misinterpretations of the Mayans, that is. (nt) Posteritatis Oct 2012 #4
All I have to say is Confusious Oct 2012 #2
very cool. jonthebru Oct 2012 #3

jonthebru

(1,034 posts)
3. very cool.
Mon Oct 1, 2012, 06:16 PM
Oct 2012

My father saw Halley's comet in the early 20th century when you could see it during the day.
If this is as bright as they predict it may be visible during the day.

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