Tag Archives: International Scientific Optical Network

ISON close-up

26 Tuesday Nov 2013

Posted by in Lessons, News update, Science, Universe

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

, , , , , , , ,

The comet that is approaching, C/2012 S1, also known as Comet ISON and as Comet Nevski–Novichonok is thought by many a scientist to carry the pristine matter from the beginning of our solar system.

On Thanksgiving (a U.S. Holiday celebrated on November 28 this year) ISON will pass as close to our sun as 730,000 miles. Meantime it is heating up as it moves ever closer.

The latest speculation is on what will survive as the comet grazes the sun’s atmospheric (tidal wave) influences. Will it be destroyed, damaged, melted, or what?

.CometISON-Nov14-animation.

ISON was named after the International Scientific Optical Network that was used by a pair of Russian astronomers to detect the comet in September 2012. It’s official name is C/2012 S1, indicating when it was discovered. The name Nevski–Novichonok comes from the names of the Russian astronomers Vitali Nevski and Artyom Novichonok that first discovered the comet.

Every lens in this part of the universe perhaps is trained on ISON. The Mars bound Maven spacecraft launched on November 18 may even capture ISON images during the second week of December as the spacecraft continues its journey toward Mars. MAVEN is the first spacecraft devoted to exploring the Martian upper atmosphere. Its trip to Mars will take 10 months and MAVEN is expected to begin an orbit around Mars in September of 2014.

Whatever becomes of ISON, I am sure that its coming will herald in new science regarding the forming and behavior of comets. I’d like to keep the focus on ISON for now though.

Thanks for learning with me.

New post Eric

.

Related articles

.

Advertisement

when is a comet not just a comet?

20 Friday Sep 2013

Posted by in Bucketlist, Heaven, News update, Science, Universe

≈ 12 Comments

Tags

, , , , , , , , , ,

Well, if it’s a mini solar system for example, then it isn’t really just a comet at all. If it’s a sun-grazing comet it isn’t ordinary either. How about when a comet arrives during the holidays? I can’t find any verifiable information about the mini solar system theory, but approaching ISON is a sun-grazer and it will be visible during the holidays.

The approaching “comet” ISON entered into our solar system and is heading for a fling around our sun (hence, sun-grazing).

Orbit_comet_2012_S1_ISON

It’s on my bucket list (since for sure, I’ll be able to see it — and so will any of you). It will be visible even in broad daylight from planet Earth. ISON will reach its closest to our sun on Thanksgiving Day, November 28, 2013.

ISON stands for the International Scientific Optical Network located near Kislovodsk, Russia where it was imaged. You can learn more about the approaching comet at NASA: A Timeline Of Comet ISON’s Dangerous Journey.

Remember Comet Hale-Bopp, discovered on July 23, 1995? Well, it was far less of a potential danger — Hale-Bopp was visible to the naked eye for a record 569 days (about 18 and a half months). The NASA website got over 1 million hits in a day even back then. People were greatly surprised by the sudden announcements after the comet was discovered  independently by Alan Hale, New Mexico and Thomas Bopp, Arizona.

ISON will generate millions of hits at probably thousands of Websites and many of them will be predicting doom of one kind or another — including of course, the end of the world. Some predict aliens arriving, some theorize about natural disasters. Some report facts and avoid sensational speculative guessing and warnings. However in this case, even NASA expresses concern that there are potential dangers. You’ll of course be on your own to take what precautions that you gauge as necessary.

I’ll keep my faith and a level head.

Thanks for reading,

 Eric

NASA articles:
___
Related articles