General Information on the Swift-Tuttle Comet

December 13, 2010 Leave a Comment

ContentThe Swift-Tuttle comet is the largest known object to repeatedly pass near Earth and is also one of the oldest known comets with sightings that span two millennia. This comet has made news in recent years for several reasons. The most concerning news came in the late 1990’s as scientists studying the comet realized that it is going to come uncomfortably close to Earth around July 11 2126, potentially colliding with our home planet. The other reason that the Swift-Tuttle comet is so popular is because it is the originator of the yearly Perseids meteor showers. It has a 133 year solar orbit and it is expected the comet will next pass the sun on July 11, 2126.

Scientists are able to calculate the path of millions of space objects, including comets. Experts agree that the next time Swift-Tuttle will come close to the sun is on July 11, 2126. But, if there is a slight error in the calculations of +15, or the comet changes it’s orbit only minutely, it could collide with Earth around August 14 2126. The odds of a collision are very slim, but Earth does pass through the comet’s orbit.

Swift-Tuttle comet’s scientific name is Comet 109P. It got its real name from two gentlemen who discovered the comet two weeks apart, without realizing it. On July 16, 1862, Lewis Swift found this comet in the Camelopardalis constellation. He reported that is was a bright telescopic object, but assumed he was looking at the Schmidt comet and did not report this sighting. On July 19, 1862, Horace Parnell Tuttle spotted Comet 109P and made a note that it was heading north. Tuttle made an official announcement and when Swift heard, he realized it was the same comet he viewed and made an announcement. As a result, both men are given credit for the discovery of the Swift-Tuttle comet.

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Earth’s Amazing Moon

December 12, 2010 Leave a Comment

Humans often take advantage of the moon because we see it every night of our lives. Yet, the average American knows very little about our little gray friend in the sky. Earth’s amazing moon is so close, yet we still know so little about it. With only one man’s footprints on the surface of the Moon, there is still a lot to learn.

Did you know that the Moon was formed when a planet crashed into Earth, stripping away the outer layer and sending it into orbit? The Earth pieces where overtaken by gravity and coalesced together to form the Moon. All of this crashing and pulling and molding vaporized most of the water in the lunar material.

Apollo astronauts brought back lunar rocks, but they are a lot dryer than the rocks found on Earth, which makes sense because of how the Moon was formed. But, experts are still holding out for the possibility of water in a few select places, such as in the deep craters at the lunar poles where the super cold temperatures may be able to trap water as ice.

In October 2009, NASA crashed a spacecraft into the Moon, on purpose, near the lunar South Pole. Scientists wanted to collect some debris from the crash to analyze it. The Centaur hit the Moon at over 5,6000 mph and sent a plume of dust, debris, and other material over 12 miles high. This plume contained mostly water grains, which had to arrive on the Moon from an impact from other celestial bodies, or through a chemical process. Either way, the Moon has large quantities of pure water ice at its southern pole.

Another surprising find was the detection of mercury in the Moon’s soil, which is suspected to be in equal amounts as the water found by the Moon crash. This experiment has shown that the Moon is a complex environment, full of surprises and intriguing chemical processes.

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What are the Perseids Meteor Showers?

December 11, 2010 Leave a Comment

ContentThe Perseids meteor showers are actually debris from the Swift-Tuttle comet. Each summer, between August 9 and 14, the Northern Hemisphere is memorized by the sites of thousands of shooting stars. These dates are estimates as they are dependant on the actual location of the comet’s cloud any given year. At the peak of the Perseids meteor shower show, 60 or more meteors can be seen in an hour.

Surrounding the Swift-Tuttle comet is a cloud stream of debris called the Perseid cloud, which is made up of comet particles that are about a thousand years old. A newer stream of debris was pulled off the comet in 1862 and most of the meteors that are seen in the night sky today are from this newer cloud stream.

This yearly meteor shower event received its name because it looks as if the meteors are coming from the constellation Perseus. The word Perseids comes partly from the word Perseides, which can be found in Greek mythology and refers to the descendants of Perseus.

The Perseids meteor shower has been delighting sky watchers for about 2000 years. The earliest record of this meteor shower comes from the Far East. It is the most famous of all the meteor showers. It is also among the fastest moving meteors seen every year. Because the showers take place in the summer, it makes it easy for anyone in the Northern Hemisphere to enjoy the impressive light show.

People in the Southern Hemisphere will have trouble seeing the Perseids meteor showers because it never reaches higher than the horizon. On the busiest night, it is possible for people living down south to see between 10 and 15 meteors per hour rising up from the northern horizon.

If you’ve spotted a shooting star in late July to mid August, trace it back and see if it appears to have originated from the Perseus constellation. If so, it’s a Perseid meteor

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Tips on Observing the Night Sky

December 10, 2010 Leave a Comment

ContentMankind has been looking upwards since the beginning of time. The night sky is a source of amazement, wonderment, and endless possibilities. The sky is fascinating to people of all ages. If you are interested in learning some tips on observing the night sky, this is the place to be.

Less Light is Best
First, chose a spot with no outside lights to detract from the twinkling stars above. City dwellers will have a harder time stargazing than those in the country. The bright city lights will wash out the night sky, making it hard to see the starts. If you live in the city, trying going on the roof to get a better view of the sky.

Be Prepared
Plan a night gazing event during the day. Decide what you want to look at and find out approximately where it is in the sky. Get out all your charts and notes and have them ready to go. It is also a good idea to stay out of bright light during the day of a nigh sky observation event, so that your eyes will be accustomed to the dark sky and bright stars. Some people will go so far as to wear sunglasses at all times the day they plan to star peep.

Dress Appropriately
You will be outside, at night, when it’s the coldest. Experienced stargazers will recommend that you dress as if its 20 degrees colder than it actually is. Since you will be rather still while looking at the night sky, it always feels colder than it really is.

Preserve Your Dark Adaptation
It can take up to an hour for your eyes to fully adapt to the dark night sky and get the clearest views of celestial bodies. Preserve that adaptation by using a red flashlight to read your notes and start charts. Use several layers of red construction paper to convert a regular flashlight into a red astronomical flashlight.

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