Date: 2/19/02 11:30:17 AM Pacific Standard Time
Kent, There is speculation that this may be the return of the Comet of
1532. C/2002 C1 has a period of 400 to 500 years. Did a little research and
found a drawing of the Comet of 1532 by Peter Apian. I have been taking some
pics of C/2002 C1. They are posted at my web-site. The appearance is strikingly
similar.
http://cometman.com/c2002c1.html
Thought you'd enjoy it.
Update-comments
2/27/02 11:56:49 AM Pacific Standard Time
Kent,
With more data in
Ikeya-Zhang's orbital period has now been determined to be approximately
340
years.
Which brings us to it's
last perihelion in March 1659, no where close to the Comet of 1532.
Paul
Any response to these questions-comments?
EMAILER:
Date: 2/26/02 8:47:59 AM Pacific Standard Time
"The comet Ikeya-Khang is most definitely a rogue or maverick. No other
comet has come into our universe to circle the sun at a solar sun spot
Maxi-Maximum, at least in the 20th century. All past plotted comet TRAJECTORY
positions show the tracts on the opposite side of the sun as opposed to I-K's
orbit projection for April 28, 2002, and the dates of the comets have always
come in was at solar sun spot MINIMUMS ,i.e., low or very little solar sun
spot activity. Check it out. Worth watching......."
Also from ABC:
http://abcnews.go.com/sections/science/DailyNews/planet991007.html
By
Kenneth
Chang
ABCNEWS.com
Oct.
7
—
Astronomers may
have found hints of a massive, distant, still unseen object at the edge of
the solar system — perhaps a 10th planet, perhaps a failed companion
star — that appears to be shoving comets toward the inner solar system
from an orbit 3 trillion miles
away.
I think the question that nags me here:
In trying to compare current comets to historical, aren't all bets off if there is a big "hand" out there shoving things towards us, call it Nemesis-Nibiru-brown dwarf-Perturber?
You mention, "Which brings us to it's last perihelion in March 1659, no where close to the Comet of 1532."
But what about a kick in the comet-tail, eh?
Lastly, is the comet
now visible through binnocs? For layman, where to
look?
Kent
Date: 2/27/02 3:20:08 PM Pacific Standard Time
Kent, The correct explanation is usually the simplest one.
There are a small swarm of comets out there. These are all coming at different times and from different locations and going different directions. Ikeya-Zhang is no different. In reference to the theory that a yet unidentified object is hurtling comets our way, would be remote. In Ikeya-Zhang's case, it is coming from an entirely different part of the heavens; as compared to the supposed location of the theoretical brown dwarf that some are currently excited about.
Due to the number of emails about that theorized brown dwarf, I did take some images of that area. I did not find any new objects. It is much to do about nothing. If there were something to shout about, the respected scientific community would surely be all a buzz.
Ikeya-Zhang is binocular visible. However it may be difficult to find yet for the layperson. This is due to its location close to the western horizon after sunset. It may not get much brighter than magnitude 4; thus it won't be a spectacular object. It will be a fun one to photograph though; and will be around most of the year. Visually it may not be as dramatic as in the images at my web site.
If people want to see it I recommend that they get in contact with their local astronomy clubs. Most amateur astronomers should be able to locate it.
Date: 2/27/02 4:58:30 PM Pacific Standard Time
Hi Kent: I have been on both sides of the fence on this, however, this is something to consider.
SNIP-
"It's fairly evident that I am not saying that something is not going to happen. After laying out the evidence that there is, indeed, a 3600 year cycle, and that the last "hit" was right around 3600 years ago, no one can accuse me of not being as "catastrophic" as the next person. In fact, I think that what we are suggesting here, including our findings that something is definitely being hidden from us, is singularly catastrophic. In fact, it is damn scary."
SNIP-
"Sitchin proposed that a "10th Planet" caroms through the inner solar system. Scientific evidence does not support a body the size he suggests, entering into the inner solar system. However, science can support a cluster of comets spread out in space that returns at 3,600 year intervals."
http://www.cassiopaea.org/cass/sitchin.htm