Science News

[Duke of Buckingham]

A Way to the Most Abundant Energy

Viable solar energy has been a long-sought-after goal, but with new and affordable technologies, we might soon be able to make the switch

By Richard Perez

Editor’s note: The following is the introduction to a special e-publication called The Dawn of Solar Power (click the link to see a table of contents). Published in August 2013, the collection draws articles from the archives of Scientific American.

We have come a long way in taming the sun’s chaotic energy since 19th century efforts to create a solar motor. Today we can efficiently heat water and buildings and even generate substantial transmittable power all from this abundant light source.

Our ability to make use of this power source has ...

More on: http://www.scientificamerican.com/ar...bundant-energy

[Duke of Buckingham]

United Nations to Adopt Asteroid Defense Plan

Earth is not prepared for the threat of hazardous rocks from space, say astronauts who helped formulate the U.N. measures

By Clara Moskowitz



When a meteor exploded over Chelyabinsk, Russia in February, the world’s space agencies found out along with the rest of us, on Twitter and YouTube. That, says former astronaut Ed Lu, is unacceptable—and the United Nations agrees. Last week the General Assembly approved a set of measures that Lu and other astronauts have recommended to protect the planet from the dangers of rogue asteroids.

The U.N. plans to set up an “International Asteroid Warning Group” for member nations to share information about potentially hazardous space rocks. If astronomers detect an asteroid that poses a threat to Earth, the U.N.’s Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space will help coordinate a mission to launch a spacecraft to slam into the object and deflect it from its collision course.

Lu and other members of the Association of Space Explorers (ASE) recommended ...

More on: http://www.scientificamerican.com/ar...d-defense-plan

[Duke of Buckingham]

Astronomers Puzzle Over Newfound Asteroid That Acts Like a Comet [Video]

An oddball cometlike asteroid could explain how rocky bodies develop wispy comet tails—or just add more confusion

By John Matson



The distinction between comets and asteroids is in principle a clear one, encoded right in the words themselves. Both terms come from Greek roots—“comet” descends from a word meaning “long-haired” and “asteroid” means, roughly, “starlike.” So there it is: comets are fuzzy, and asteroids are discrete pinpricks of light. The definitions hint at compositional differences as well: comets are icy, which leads them to come apart when they draw near the sun, whereas rocky asteroids are somewhat more robust.

In recent years, though, astronomers have seen ...

More on: http://www.scientificamerican.com/ar...comet-asteroid

[Duke of Buckingham]

Comet from the Oort Cloud Careens toward the Sun

This month Comet ISON will fly by the sun in an encounter that could destroy the object, or elevate it to greatness

By Clara Moskowitz

It’s make or break time for Comet c/2012 S1 (ISON), a ball of ice hurtling toward the inner solar system that will make its closest approach to the sun this month. Whether ISON will flare into a “great comet” or fizzle out is still an open question, but scientists say either way, ISON offers an unprecedented opportunity to understand the ingredients and history of the solar system.

Comet ISON was discovered in September 2012 by two Russian astronomers using telescopes in the International Scientific Optical Network (ISON). The comet, made mostly of ...

More on: http://www.scientificamerican.com/ar...n-sun-approach

[John P. Myers]

i've been following this comet ever since it's discovery. I really hope it survives it's loop around the sun. If so, it should be the brightest comet anyone has ever seen. Perhaps brighter than even the moon.

[cineon_lut]

i've been following this comet ever since it's discovery. I really hope it survives it's loop around the sun. If so, it should be the brightest comet anyone has ever seen. Perhaps brighter than even the moon.

Me too. If it survives past Nov. 28, it will be epic. It'll make me go buy a new f1.4 prime lens for my astrophotography.

[Duke of Buckingham]

[John P. Myers]

"If the heat does not kill ISON, the sun's gravity may rip it apart. But recent calculations show ISON will survive..If predictions prove correct, the comet should be visible to the naked eye in Earth's early morning skies in early December and throughout the night beginning in January." The apparent magnitude could reach -13, making it just a tad brighter than the moon (-12.74).

[Duke of Buckingham]

"If the heat does not kill ISON, the sun's gravity may rip it apart. But recent calculations show ISON will survive..If predictions prove correct, the comet should be visible to the naked eye in Earth's early morning skies in early December and throughout the night beginning in January." The apparent magnitude could reach -13, making it just a tad brighter than the moon (-12.74).

Thanks for the information JPM.

Outburst lights up Comet ISON; it's now visible to naked eye

By Joe Rao Space.com


Mike Hankey / www.mikesastrophotos.com
Astrophotographer Mike Hankey sent in a photo of Comet ISON, taken through his telescope on Sunday from Auberry, Calif., near Fresno. He has been imaging ISON regularly since Sept 21 and noticed a more prominent jet in recent days.

Get ready for a stellar show. The much-anticipated Comet ISON is now visible to the naked eye, according to reports from many observers.

Comet ISON — the potential "comet of the century" — has suddenly brightened in an outburst of activity, with just two weeks to go before it literally grazes the surface of the sun.

In recent months, Comet ISON has repeatedly befuddled forecasters trying to anticipate just how bright it will ultimately become. Earlier this week...

More on: http://www.nbcnews.com/science/outbu...eye-2D11591258

[Duke of Buckingham]

Comet ISON’s month of perihelion has finally arrived! On November 28th, ISON will hurtle around the Sun at an astonishing speed and hopefully emerge unscathed so that it will be visible in our night skies throughout December. Watch this space!

This page is amazing giving by the second the distances to earth and the sun and also the speed of the comet, a lot of other information is available. Exciting to see the numbers rolling fast.

http://www.cometison2013.co.uk/perihelion-and-distance/