Scientists issue call for help with images of comet without a tail
Amateur stargazers have been asked to help space researchers by attempting to catch a comet with a missing tail on camera.
The comet, known as C/2021 S3 PanSTARRS, is about the same distance from Earth as the Sun and researchers from the University of Reading are keen for pictures from space enthusiasts to help with meteorological research.
Researchers are attempting to develop ways to improve and further analyse space weather.
It's a sign of the times, the comet's tail may be on Galactic eBay by now. It's a mistake to assume that aliens will turn out to be benign or evil, they may turn out to be nothing more than interstellar looters. Our elites should fit in quite well.
"Researchers are attempting to develop ways to improve and further analyse space weather."
ReplyDelete. . . and attract some nice juicy grants.
I hope they're going to refer to it as a Manx comet.
ReplyDeleteJannie - yes and preferably long term grants.
ReplyDeletedearieme - ha ha, good idea.
It is the same distance from us as the Sun.
ReplyDeleteEh?
So if you point your telescope at the Sun you might just see the elusive tail.
Milliseconds before your eyes get turned to charcoal.
No, I know. It is just a really crap way of explaining its directon. No astronomer would ever say this. Maybe a "scientist" would.
Doonhamer - I hadn't thought of it in that way, but yes, it's a really crap way of explaining its direction.
ReplyDeleteI always thought that a comet's tail was comprised of debris and ice, picked up on it's journey through the colder reaches of space, and which melted as it approached the sun. If it doesn't have a tail, is it really a comet? Or, am I reading this all wrong?
ReplyDeletePenseivat - I've always assumed the tail always points away from the sun because I read it somewhere ages ago. That could be wrong, but if a comet didn't have a tail, wouldn't it be very difficult to spot? At least until modern telescopes were built.
ReplyDelete