George

Comet ISON Update

Here’s an artist’s rendition of how Comet ISON, the “Comet of the Century,” might look in December this year, from earthsky.org:

ISON18thDec5pm

And here’s a recent piece in Space.com that recalls another famous Comet of the Century:

“Remember Kohoutek?

“If you’re of a certain age, this story might have a familiar ring. Indeed, exactly 40 years ago, a comet by the name of Kohoutek was also discovered at a tremendously large distance from the sun, en route to a close solar encounter in late December 1973.

“Like ISON, Kohoutek was expected to dazzle — perhaps more than 100 times brighter than Venus. It, too, was dubbed “the comet of the century,” but in the end, Kohoutek turned out to be much dimmer and put on a rather disappointing show.”

Summer Reading Pick in South Carolina

This just in: THE NIGHT OF THE COMET is on a Southern Titles Summer Reading list in The State newspaper, out of Columbia, South Carolina:

“‘The Night of the Comet’ by George Bishop: Obsessed with the coming of Comet Kohoutek, a frustrated high school science teacher tries to bond with his 14-year-old son, Alan Jr., by giving him a telescope. But instead of pointing it at the stars, Alan Jr. focuses the instrument on the bedroom window of his neighbor and classmate, Gabriella. The closer the comet draws, the more relationships fracture. Aug. 6. Random House. $29.95.”

And here’s a picture of the the South Carolina flag, which I always liked:

750px-Flag_of_South_Carolina.svg

Comets and Aerolites

“Comets and Aerolites,” from Reynolds’s Series of Astronomical Diagrams, by James Reynolds, 1847. An aerolite is a meteorite, specifically, a stony meteorite consisting of silicate materials.

The falling stars you see in a meteor shower are from the “dust trail” left by comets as they circle through the solar system.

Comets and Aerolites

Image from Stephen Ellcock’s FB page “The Celestial Archives: Pre-Space Age Images of the Heavens.”

Comet Lithographs, 1850s

“Comets.” One of nine wall hangings, all on astronomical themes, that were among many produced by the Working Men’s Educational Union in the 1850s. They were printed lithographically on cotton, probably to avoid paper duty. The hangings would have been used in lectures, held at various locations, to illustrate the latest advances in knowledge.

Comet Lithographs 1850s

From Stephen Ellcock’s FB page “The Celestial Archive: Pre-Space Age Images of the Heavens.”

Texas Star Party

A piece in the New York Times recently about the annual gathering of astronomy buffs in Fort Davis, Tx., for the 34th Texas Star Party:

Texas Star Party

About 500 astronomers, pro and amateur, have come from around the world to view the stars from this small, dark town. Fort Davis provides a light-pollution-free environment that’s surprisingly rare in the U.S. today.