Comet Close Approach to Mars, NASA Spacecraft Looking

[N2NH]

Discovered last year, comet Sliding Spring (??) will make a very close approach to Mars on Oct 19th.


A comet will give Mars a historically close shave next weekend, and NASA aims to be ready for the dramatic cosmic event.

The space agency has already trained a number of its science assets on Comet Siding Spring (http://www.space.com/20417-collision-course-a-comet-heads-for-mars.html), which will zoom within 87,000 miles (139,500 kilometers) of Mars on Oct. 19 - about one-third the distance between Earth and the moon. And NASA's fleet of Red Planet orbiters and rovers will be watching on the big day, studying the comet and its influence on Mars' atmosphere.



Ought to be interesting to see if the orbiters and rovers there will be able to catch a glimpse of it.

As Comet Nears Mars, NASA Gears Up for Epic Encounter (http://www.accuweather.com/en/features/trend/as_comet_nears_mars_nasa_gears/35535335)

[K7SGJ]

I'll tell ya, shit like this just blows my mind. I can't even begin to imagine what the capabilities will be 20 years from now.

[kb2vxa]

Unless Mars passes through the tail 87,000 miles is just a bit too far to affect the atmosphere. Now if it were the New Haven Comet those little green men better known on Earth as greenies would be protesting the Diesel smoke and raising a fuss over CO2 and global warming.

[NQ6U]

I looked around a bit and can't find info on whether or not this comet will be visible from earth.

On Edit: It may be visible with binoculars from the US in late October through early November (after it passes by Mars). People in the southern hemisphere will have a better view.

[K7SGJ]

Unless Mars passes through the tail 87,000 miles is just a bit too far to affect the atmosphere. Now if it were the New Haven Comet those little green men better known on Earth as greenies would be protesting the Diesel smoke and raising a fuss over CO2 and global warming.


No big deal. We have a metric shit-ton of Slim Whitman music available.

[NQ6U]

We had a total lunar eclipse last week and now a comet. Obviously, it's a sign that the gods are angry with us. Time to throw a virgin into the Island Volcano—assuming we can find one.

[K7SGJ]

We had a total lunar eclipse last week and now a comet. Obviously, it's a sign that the gods are angry with us. Time to throw a virgin into the Island Volcano—assuming we can find one.

Probably in a 2nd or 3rd grade classrooms at an all girl schools, but they don't allow lecherous old men anywhere near the place. Sorry.

[kb2vxa]

Who said it has to be female?