Comet's Astronomy Workshop - Page 4

1069 · #31 (**permalink**) 08-12-2012, 02:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mlurp

I am learning a lot more each day... And today it is Cassiopeia. Yet I don't know just what dabateman means by fun story yet.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cassiopeia_(constellation)

Search Page: Cassiopeia - Yahoo! Search Results

I think that's the "fun story", right there. The one about Queen Cassiopeia.

mlurp · #32 (**permalink**) 08-12-2012, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1069

I think that's the "fun story", right there. The one about Queen Cassiopeia.

Just might be...

But I can't read the mind of dabateman or anyone else.

Coyote · #33 (**permalink**) 08-12-2012, 08:14 PM

So...why isn't the Big Dipper a Constelation?

My personal favorite is Orion...I can see him in the cold winter skys - very clear around here.

Sadly - we had a federal prison built nearby a few years ago, it has added light pollution where their was none before

Comet · #34 (**permalink**) 08-13-2012, 01:08 AM

Random Quick Fact - A "shooting star" is usually just dust particles and debris left in the path of Earth's orbit, normally by comets. These dust particles enter the Earth's atmosphere and burn up, causing a streak in the sky.

To be technical, these are called meteors and can range anywhere in size from a grain of sand to a boulder-sized debris. In order for the meteor to be visible from the ground, the size of it must usually be at least two inches in diameter.

If the meteor does not burn up and physically impacts on land and survives intact, it is called a meteorite.

While in space, they are refereed to as a meteoroid.

Several "shooting stars" occurring within a few minutes of one another is called a meteor shower.

mlurp · #35 (**permalink**) 08-13-2012, 01:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Comet

Random Quick Fact - A "shooting star" is usually just dust particles and debris left in the path of Earth's orbit, normally by comets. These dust particles enter the Earth's atmosphere and burn up, causing a streak in the sky.

To be technical, these are called meteors and can range anywhere in size from a grain of sand to a boulder-sized debris. In order for the meteor to be visible from the ground, the size of it must usually be at least two inches in diameter.

If the meteor does not burn up and physically impacts on land and survives intact, it is called a meteorite.

While in space, they are refereed to as a meteoroid.

Several "shooting stars" occurring within a few minutes of one another is called a meteor shower.

I have heard that near a ton makes it to earth a year mostly the dust, is that right?

Comet · #36 (**permalink**) 08-13-2012, 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mlurp

I have heard that near a ton makes it to earth a year mostly the dust, is that right?

More like 10,000 to 20,000 tons each year.

mlurp · #37 (**permalink**) 08-13-2012, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Comet

More like 10,000 to 20,000 tons each year.

Comet....

was I off in the weight or what? They need to start a new series on the Universe

As I heard that number last night while watching the series.
I should have stayed with the pre-season foot ball games I saw already.

mlurp · #38 (**permalink**) 10-02-2012, 03:11 PM

Comet can you tell us something about this theory on our Suns evil twin call Neminus, which I think I mis-spelled.

It is suppose to come around every 26 million years, tossing comets/asteroids out of their obits.

Some claim they are the reason for each event where almost every life form died off.

mlurp · #39 (**permalink**) 10-03-2012, 01:53 PM

The correct name is Nemesis. This is all I could find on this monster/theory. Counting down from 65 million years ago it (if it is real) should come around in 13 million years.

Comet can you add anything to tis?

Quote:

In 1983, a scientist named Richard Muller came up with an interesting theory to explain the almost regular interavals between mass extinctions on Earth.

Roughly every 26 million years, the Earth suffers a massive extinction event in which whole species and ecosystems disappear. It's widely believed and accepted by the scientific community that the extinction events are precipitated by the impacts of comets and asteroid impacts, but what Muller devised to explain the almost regular event was rather scandalous - what if the sun had an evil twin brother?

Muller theorized that, orbiting the sun at a great distance, is another star - possibly a red or brown dwarf which orbits the sun once every 26 million years at a distance of 1 to 3 light years (this is very distant when you consider that the closest known star, Proxima Centauri, is only 4.2 light years away!) When the star, which Muller named Nemesis after the Greek goddess of divine retribution, gets close to the sun thanks to an irregular orbit, it disturbs the Oort Cloud, the grouping of icy comets and bodies at the edge of our solar system, and sends them on a collision course towards the inner planets.

The Sun's Evil Twin

Comet · #40 (**permalink**) 11-28-2012, 02:01 AM

Random Quick Fact - The "surface" of the Sun is called the photosphere.

Have not had a lot of free time lately but am seeing more of it lately. If people are interested in this thread I will try and cover a new topic each week.

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