515 Crew

[Beaver]

Copied f/ foxnews.com:

WASHINGTON — An odd, greenish backward-flying comet is zipping by Earth this month, as it takes its only trip toward the sun from the farthest edges of the solar system.

The comet is called Lulin, and there's a chance it can be seen with the naked eye — far from city lights, astronomers say. But you'll most likely need a telescope, or at least binoculars, to spot it.

The best opportunity is just before dawn one-third of the way up the southern sky. It should be near Saturn and two bright stars, Spica and Regula.

On Monday at 10:43 p.m. EST, it will be 38 million miles from Earth, the closest it will ever get, according to Donald Yeomans, manager of NASA's Near Earth Object program.

The story behind the comet is more intriguing than its appearance — the greenish tinge may be hard for many to discern. The color comes from a type of carbon and cyanogen, a poisonous gas.

Lulin was discovered by a Chinese teenager two years ago. It still has many of its original gases — gases that are usually stripped away as comets near the sun. Unlike most comets viewable from Earth, this one hasn't been this close to the sun before, Yeomans said.

Thanks to an optical illusion, from Earth it appears as if the comet's tail is in the front as the comet approaches Earth and the sun.

"It essentially is going backwards through the solar system," he said.

It came from the outskirts of the solar system, 18 trillion miles away. Once it's made the journey around the sun, Lulin will gain enough speed to escape the solar system, Edberg said.

"If you are interested in comets, make sure you see it," he said. "But it's not going to be a real great blast for the general public."

[Hank Fist]

[jnice]

[robdigi]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=87nkJquHnAU

[Walking Thunder]

Hank, did Varg email you that cartoon?

[Hank Fist]

New York Post!
Thought it was interesting that it got published, although i don't know much about the NYP's politics.


I'm totally going to go check out this comet at my parents out in the country.

[El Rhino]

Lulin[/i]

This is how telemarketers pronounce my last name.


I've been reading a little bit about this comet, haven't seen it yet. I hope to maybe tonight or in the next few days. There's been some good nights for that sort of thing (this is the best time of the year, sky-wise) but I haven't been out much lately.

[inx515xhell]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=87nkJquHnAU

HAVE YOU ALL SRSLY NOT WATCHED THIS. OMFG.

[inx515xhell]

FACT: Mark Gormley invented fish fingers. However, it was an old school-pal by the name of Captain Birdseye who took credit for this and who went on to become a successful entrepreneur

[robdigi]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9J65j2GNzw


this song is better, but the video didn't fit the space theme as well.

[inx515xhell]

shit is better than uncle muscles.

[robdigi]

yeah dude. he BELONGS on Tim & Eric. he should do a duet with David Liebe Hart.