Solar Flares & In Coming Comet

[nebula]

Are you talking about this one?

Using NASA simulations of the comet's path, [Eric] Julien concludes that impact is likely around May 25 precisely when the comet crosses the Earth's ecliptic plane. While the first fragment will cross at approximately 10 million miles, lagging fragments threaten to collide. While astronomers have stated that the comet poses no direct threat, Julien argues that some fragments are too small to observe. Astronomers have predicted possible meteor showers indicating some cometary debris will enter the atmosphere.

Because this is what an astronomer has to say about it:

Eric Julien, who claims he is (and for all I know, may actually be) an ex-air traffic controller in France, says he has tracked (using "NASA simulations" which means he went on the web and poked around with orbital simulators) a fragment of a comet called P73 Schwassmann-Wachmann, a comet that was discovered in 1930. Comets are giant hunks of ice and rock, and when they get near the Sun the ice turns into a gas and creates the long tail. Sometimes the ice is what holds the comet together, so as it sublimates the comet can break apart. Schwassmann-Wachmann recently did this, fragmenting into many smaller chunks. These chunks can drift away from the main mass of the comet (if there is a main mass left), following different orbits over time.

However, the fragments of Schwassmann-Wachmann are all still pretty close together. And even if they weren't it would hardly matter-- closest approach of the comet will occur not on May 25 but around May 14, when it will be about 10 million kilometers from Earth-- about 6 million miles away. While that's close as comet passes go, that's still a long way. When asked if it will collide with Earth, Near-Earth Object expert Don Yeomans said, "Goodness, no. The closest fragment will be about six million miles away--or twenty-five times farther than the Moon."

Concerning the above mentioned article, he says:

This is marginally true. Note the word "possibly" in the last sentence. We might get some meteors from this, but it's doubtful due to the great distance. But the next quotation is the money quote:

Julien argues that the kinetic energy of even a 'car sized' fragment will impact the Earth with devastating effect.

Bzzzzzt! Wrong. Call a fragment like this 3 meters across. It would have a mass of 7 tons, and at an impact velocity of 16 kilometers per second (the speed of the comet as it passes us) the impact energy would be the somewhat respectable equivalent of 450 tons of TNT. That's about 0.02 times the energy released by the Hiroshima atomic bomb.

That may sound like enough to do some damage, but it wouldn't. Ice is not very solid. When a small chunk enters the Earth's atmosphere, the energy of entry causes it to heat rapidly, and it explodes. But it does so while it is still very high over the ground, 50 miles or so. Some estimates are that a chunk of ice or rock a meter across enters the Earth's atmosphere once a month! Yet we don't even notice. While something 3 meters across would make a bigger bang (27 times as big, in fact*), it's still pretty small -- just half the Hiroshima bomb. That's big enough to see, but still too high up to have any real effect on the ground. No sound, no worries, and certainly no "devastating effect".

And remember, that's only if a fragment actually hits us. Which almost certainly one won't.

Julien goes on, tying this event to the Bush Administration, Iran, and (of course!) crop circles. 'nuff said. So duh, we're in no danger.

Source

[Leonard]

Well, since I was born, I've heard one 'scientist' after another come up with some impending catastrophe, one after another.......... NONE HAPPENED!!! Now a good many of these guys DID succeed in creating enough public panic to get some huge government grants for themselves to fat-cat it on for years and years to come, but NOT ONE OF THESE 'SCIENTIFIC PANICS' ACTUALLY OCCURED.

So I doubt this one will happen either. Will the earth be hit someday by a huge meteor or comet which could kill millions? Quite likely. Tomorrow? Quite unlikely. What can we do about it? NOTHING!

Unless of course, you purchase Leonard's Amazing Comet Repellent.......

[traveller]

Unless of course, you purchase Leonard's Amazing Comet Repellent.......

Does it come Fragrance Free, or do I have to select a smell?

[Trinity]

Can i purchase Leonard's Amazing Comet attractant spry?

I've never seen a comet up close and would love to see one!!! i did see Haley's comet, but that was far away... i want to see one closer

[nebula]

Well, I can give you a picture of the comet in question .

[Scarletprayers]

Thanks Neb, thats awesome!

[Trinity]

Well, I can give you a picture of the comet in question .

Thanks thats cool and all i do mean that and all but... I still want to see opne closer!!!

... Leonard...

Can I still purchase Leonard's Amazing Comet attractant spry?

[RGR]

Unless of course, you purchase Leonard's Amazing Comet Repellent.......

Does it come Fragrance Free, or do I have to select a smell?

As a now licensed distributor I have added, for $2 more, a chocolated scented one if that would appeal to you! Of course the unadultered one smells like Ted after a hot day in the sun playing with aircraft!

[Scarletprayers]

Unless of course, you purchase Leonard's Amazing Comet Repellent.......

Does it come Fragrance Free, or do I have to select a smell?

As a now licensed distributor I have added, for $2 more, a chocolated scented one if that would appeal to you! Of course the unadultered one smells like Ted after a hot day in the sun playing with aircraft!

Ahhhh, make my four chocolate PLEASE!

[RGR]

Unless of course, you purchase Leonard's Amazing Comet Repellent.......

Does it come Fragrance Free, or do I have to select a smell?

As a now licensed distributor I have added, for $2 more, a chocolated scented one if that would appeal to you! Of course the unadultered one smells like Ted after a hot day in the sun playing with aircraft!

Ahhhh, make my four chocolate PLEASE!

So no Pepe LePew fragrance?