16,944 days until Halley's Comet returns

Mint Aero

Any plans for it?

Might be alive for it myself. Think I'll post a pic of it here if AH is still around.

kneemos

When's that then.

Mint Aero

kneemos wrote: »

When's that then.

Thursday

Dozer Dave

Mint Aero wrote: »

Thursday

Falling on a bad day.

darkpagandeath

Less till Xmas though

The_Valeyard

Busy that day. Maybe next time :P

the_monkey

I remember back in '86 when it was last visible, my Dad took me out to the back roads (just outside Donaghmede in dublin) it was clear enough to see then - today im sure there would be too much light pollution.

In theory I could be around for it's return , but I doubt it.

Scarinae

I missed it last time because it was a few months before I was born. I will be nearly 75 when it returns.

Mint Aero

The_Valeyard wrote: »

Busy that day. Maybe next time :P

I'll post a pic here for ya.

conorh91

It's 46 years away if anyone is wondering.

I'll be around 70

The_Valeyard

Mint Aero wrote: »

I'll post a pic here for ya.

Brilliant.

AH will still have people debating religion though.

The Diabolical Monocle

Grabs stool and binoculars.

kneemos

conorh91 wrote: »

It's 46 years away if anyone is wondering.

I'll be around 70

I was wondering.

Don't care now though.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Mint Aero wrote: »

Any plans for it?

Might be alive for it myself. Think I'll post a pic of it here if AH is still around.

I'll post a picture of myself if I see it that day, as I'll be 117.

It was quite a disappointing view in 1986 even using a decent telescope. Maybe 2061 will be better but the expectations are that, due to the trajectory, it wouldn't even be on a par with 1986.

chrysagon

Hale bopp was a fantastic comet in 1997, and for what its worth, if u missed it, its pops again around 4385.

kneemos

Astronomers are an excitable bunch.
They get really worked up over very little .

Mint Aero

chrysagon wrote: »

Hale bopp was a fantastic comet in 1997, and for what its worth, if u missed it, its pops again around 4385.

Ummmm, I dunno I could be melted by then

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

conorh91 wrote: »

It's 46 years away if anyone is wondering.

I'll be around 70

And your point is? I'm now 71.:)

the_monkey

kneemos wrote: »

Astronomers are an excitable bunch.
They get really worked up over very little .

Such an ignorant post.

kneemos

the_monkey wrote: »

Such an ignorant post.

I disagree.

Mint Aero

the_monkey wrote: »

Such an ignorant post.

kneemos wrote: »

I disagree.

You's two gonna be arguing for the next 46 years? :mad:

MRnotlob606

I will like to see it with my future wife and kids.

happysunnydays

Hale Bopp was a serious great comet. Finally an event that lived up to expectation. It was sitting in the sky with a huge tail. Marvellous spectacle on a clear night for some time.
I am grateful that I saw this event time.

My name is URL

This thread is good panic attack material

Peregrine

My name is URL wrote: »

This thread is good panic attack material

In around 5 billion years, our sun will begin to die.


Now, that's good panic attack material.

kowloon

Nim wrote: »

In around 5 billion years, our sun will begin to die.


Now, that's good panic attack material.

They're changing the chocolate in the Creme Egg. How about that for panic attack material?

happysunnydays

Nim wrote: »

In around 5 billion years, our sun will begin to die.


Now, that's good panic attack material.

Before that though the sun will expand and fireball the Earth. That's only billion years from now:)
....but before that again the our milky way galaxy is due to collide with another approaching galaxy, marbles fun time! That's milions of years from now and likely Earth will be destroyed
.......hundreds of thousands of years from now the night sky will look hugely different as this new galaxy approaches.
I know what you're thinking, how will we escape? Well I won't be here because I got biz with the main man but.... a huge rocket engine and biosphere will surround the Earth to turn it into organic space craft. We will then propel ourselves off into space to find a new sun. That in the tens of thousands years from now.

chrysagon

no one gets out alive either way!!!!!!!!!!!!

so enjoy the show!

LucidLife

Mint Aero wrote: »

Any plans for it?

Might be alive for it myself. Think I'll post a pic of it here if AH is still around.

Never know. Mark Twain predicted that and was right..

T"wain was born shortly after a visit by Halley's Comet, and he predicted that he would "go out with it", too. He died the day after the comet returned. He was lauded as the "greatest American humorist of his age",[5] and William Faulkner called Twain "the father of American literature" -wiki

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Twain

Pherekydes

Ah, too bad. My life expectancy is only 10957 days.

LucidLife

Nim wrote: »

In around 5 billion years, our sun will begin to die.


Now, that's good panic attack material.

Its actually been dying constantly, it expires about then but we will be long gone either way. .

It will collapse in upon itself and drag all the stars anx planets around then alright but earth will cease to exist far before that.

As the sun grows warmer slowly, very slowly it will eventually start killing certain vegetarian and thus some animals dependant on them, then slowly drain the water from the earth. But its a long process with unforseen obstacles yet to show themselves.

We however have some excellent minds considering most every contingency I'm sure. The first four people that will start the colony on mars are going up in 2017/18 with more going up every 2 years after. (There is an Irish guy in the final 50 shortlisted or so I can't remember).

Anyway if Branson gets to bring tourists up to space in his lifetime we will start pioneering space and actually exploring and experimenting surely within 500 years. That's very realistic. The biggest problem they have is the distance is unthinkable and fuel is a massive problem but they almost have a solution. Remember that 17mile long track they built to smash two atoms together. .. the energy from that but its unstable or has some issue anyway.

Of course that's assuming we permit ourselves time. There are a lot of crazy people in the world. And im referring to big bankers and their ridiculous loans to buddies who should be in jail, the Federal Reserve banks more so and their ridiculously wealthy private owners, the currupted governments that sold out future generations, chemical warfare threats between nations, false flag propaganda from disguised figures, to name a few...

Once we focus on the problems enough we will figure it out though, its our way.

Time will tell but its gonna be entertaining I reckon regardless.

RobertKK

I agree with the people who said Hale Bopp, it was mesmerising.
It has so far in my life put every other comet to shame.

Just a little Samba

What was the big one that was around for ages in the mid 90's?

Edit: Google is great, was Hale-Bopp.

conorh91

LucidLife wrote: »

Its actually been dying constantly, it expires about then but we will be long gone either way. .

It will collapse in upon itself and drag all the stars anx planets around then alright but earth will cease to exist far before that.

As the sun grows warmer slowly, very slowly it will eventually start killing certain vegetarian and thus some animals dependant on them, then slowly drain the water from the earth. But its a long process with unforseen obstacles yet to show themselves.

Gulp.

I heard doom music as I read that.

crockholm

happysunnydays wrote: »

Before that though the sun will expand and fireball the Earth. That's only billion years from now:)
....but before that again the our milky way galaxy is due to collide with another approaching galaxy, marbles fun time! That's milions of years from now and likely Earth will be destroyed
.......hundreds of thousands of years from now the night sky will look hugely different as this new galaxy approaches.
I know what you're thinking, how will we escape? Well I won't be here because I got biz with the main man but.... a huge rocket engine and biosphere will surround the Earth to turn it into organic space craft. We will then propel ourselves off into space to find a new sun. That in the tens of thousands years from now.

It is estimated that increased luminousity from the sun will make all Surface Life on Earth impossible,the atmosphere will be gone,oceans evaporated out into space,cosmic/solar rays bombarding the Surface-it will be a dead planet by then (unless we can change it's fate).




As for when Andromeda and it's smaller satelite Galaxies collide with the Milky Way (couple of billion years time),round our neck of the Woods it would be as likely one pea hitting Another pea in a Square mile (not likely). Doubtless it would happen near the centre of the Galaxies,but the fun would be to Watch the dance of the 2 super-massive black holes Before the join/the bigger one cannibalizes the smaller one.

I read Before also that people shouldnt get their hopes up to see Andromeda taking up the whole night/daytime sky as once it gets closer its visible individual stars will just take their Place in the night sky.

Mint Aero

http://www.timeanddate.com/countdown/generic?p0=78&iso=20610728T00

Thought this might help people keep track.

Lapin

Nim wrote: »

In around 5 billion years, our sun will begin to die.

[QUOTE=LucidLife;94604129]Its actually been dying constantly..... [/QUOTE]

I thought as much lately.

Every day for the last four months has been dull and miserable.

As for Halley's thing. I remember it being on the news and The Sky at Night with the late, great Patrick Moore at the time. We didn't get a right look at it from this side of the world and it was all a bit of a let down really.

I remember Moore saying it mightn't be much better next time out and thinking to myself, what a bummer

I remember staying up to watch the space probe the European Space Agency sent up to intercept with the comet. An oil drum shaped yoke called Giotto with lots of bits and bobs and ariels and things attached to it, all developed in different countries. It was quite exciting. My first time seeing something actually going on up there apart from clips of astronauts doing backflips and eating biscuits suspended in front of them on 321 Countdown.

From memory, the Irish made gizmo on the probe was a thingy to gauge differing temperatures on the comet and send the records back to earth. It was apparently one of the most successful experimental pieces of equipment on board by some accounts.

Not sure how true that is though. 'Twas a long time ago and I was only a nipper watching Leo Enright getting excited.

WoollyRedHat

It's been seven hours and 8795 days since you went away.
I go out every night and sleep all day
Since you took your love away
Since you been gone I can do whatever I want
But nothing.. nothing compares to you

Like a bird without a song
Nothing can stop these lonely tears from falling
Tell me baby where did I go wrong

I could put my telescope at every comet I see
But they'd only remind me of you

I said maybe, you are gonna be the one that saves me.