Comet McNaught: Difference between revisions
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Comet McNaught is currently tied with [[Comet West]] ([[1975]]) as the 3rd brightest comet seen in the last 70 years, and the brightest in 30 years. [http://cfa-www.harvard.edu/icq/brightest.html]. It could become even brighter after making its closest pass to the sun on January 12, 2007. |
Comet McNaught is currently tied with [[Comet West]] ([[1975]]) as the 3rd brightest comet seen in the last 70 years, and the brightest in 30 years. [http://cfa-www.harvard.edu/icq/brightest.html]. It could become even brighter after making its closest pass to the sun on January 12, 2007. |
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==Destruction of the earth== |
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On January 11th, 2007 NASA announced that Comet McNaught will impact the earth at a point just above the US-Canada border in the city of Vancouver on Februrary 3rd, 2007. Owing to the large size of the comet it is expected that the impact alone will kill the entire population of North America instantly and cause the eventual demise of the rest of the earth's species within a few weeks. Wikipedia will still survive, however. |
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==References and external links== |
==References and external links== |
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Revision as of 17:41, 12 January 2007
 | This article documents a current event. Information may change rapidly as the event progresses, and initial news reports may be unreliable. The latest updates to this article may not reflect the most current information. |
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| Discovery | |
|---|---|
| Discovered by | Robert H. McNaught |
| Discovery date | August 7, 2006 |
| Designations | |
| C/2006 P1, Comet McNaught, 2006 P1 | |
| Orbital characteristics | |
| Epoch | 2453990.5 (September 12, 2006) |
| Perihelion | 0.170753998163775 AU |
| Semi-major axis | -5681.10388683203 AU |
| Eccentricity | 1.00003005648226 |
| Inclination | 77.8276800447699° |
| Next perihelion | January 12, 2007 [1] |
C/2006 P1, also known as Comet McNaught, is a comet that was discovered on August 7, 2006 in Australia by Robert H. McNaught. It will make Perihelion on January 12, 2007, and has become visible to the naked eye.
Viewing
Comet McNaught has had its apparent magnitude estimated as high as -3, but due to its proximity to the sun has a very short window for viewing. It can be found close to the horizon, near Venus, Aquila, and Ophiuchus, for approximentally 30 minutes after the sun sets in the northern hemisphere. After passing the sun, Comet McNaught should become visible in the southern hemisphere.
Comet McNaught is currently tied with Comet West (1975) as the 3rd brightest comet seen in the last 70 years, and the brightest in 30 years. [2]. It could become even brighter after making its closest pass to the sun on January 12, 2007.
Destruction of the earth
On January 11th, 2007 NASA announced that Comet McNaught will impact the earth at a point just above the US-Canada border in the city of Vancouver on Februrary 3rd, 2007. Owing to the large size of the comet it is expected that the impact alone will kill the entire population of North America instantly and cause the eventual demise of the rest of the earth's species within a few weeks. Wikipedia will still survive, however.
References and external links
- Evening viewing chart
- Article about comet
- Comet orbital elements and diagram
- Astronomy Picture of the Day
- Images of comet
- More Images of Comet
 | This comet-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |