NASA Just Confirmed The Largest Comet Ever Detected, And It's Truly Gargantuan

Comet Bernardinelli-Bernstein was discovered last year but now astronomers using the Hubble Space Telescope have determined the size of the object and it's HUGE , at 85 miles wide it's by far the largest Comet we have seen

NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope has determined the size of the largest icy comet nucleus ever found. And, it’s big! With a diameter of approximately 80 miles across, it’s about 50 times larger than typical comets. Its 500-trillion-ton mass is a hundred thousand times greater than the average comet.

Bernardinelli-Bernstein will orbit the Sun in 2031 , the next time we'll see it will be in 3 million years.

a reply to: gortex

Its quite staggering isn't it.

I wonder what the margin of error is?
I mean I wouldn't be that surprised if the nearest it comes to earth - perigee? - isn't re-evaluated a few times between now and then.
This thing is about 12 times the size of the meteor that wiped out the dinosaurs.
I know they consist of different material etc but still.....

a reply to: gortex

85 miles wide ! that is one big rock, the one that wiped out the dinosaurs was huge and that was around 10 miles wide.

Entertaining analysis from TechRadar of what would happen if it hit earth.

We did a quick work up on the consequences of a Bernardinelli-Bernstein impact event with the Earth, and while these calculations should in no way be considered authoritative, here's what we found. Assuming a density of 0.6g per cubic centimeter (roughly that of the comet Hale-Bopp), a speed of about 53 km/s (typical for a comet), and an impact angle of about 75 degrees from horizontal (the comet's orbit is nearly perpendicular to the ecliptic), well, let's just say we would really be in for it here on planet Earth.


The impact would release an energy equivalent to about 440 times the energy released during the K-T Impact Event that wiped out the dinosaurs 65 million years ago, which itself released about a 100-million-megaton blast that created firestorms across the entire planet(opens in new tab).

The impactor itself would leave behind a crater about 540 miles / 874 km across and just over 135 miles / 218 km deep, which is about 10 times deeper than the Earth's crust is thick.

In every sense of the word, this comet would be an absolute planet killer if it hit Earth. Fortunately, it's not coming anywhere near us, so if you have a powerful amateur telescope at home (or can get one in the next decade), enjoy the show as Bernardinelli-Bernstein makes its comeback tour in 2031.

www.techradar.com...

a reply to: gortex
I'm so glad someone still posts info like this. Thanks gortex.

We need to send a lander to that behemoth. I'll bet it has a story to tell.

a reply to: Spacespider

I really would love to see this baby light up! And Member Cheesy (RIP)
to be riding that bad boy!

Who's taking bets?
Nukes 2024?
Or
Large Comet 2031?

85 miles wide ! that is one big rock, the one that wiped out the dinosaurs was huge and that was around 10 miles wide.

The big one is out there somewhere again.
youtu.be...

The closest distance to Earth the comet will approach is 10 astronomical units.

Unless the math is horribly calculated or the comet has a mind of its own, nothing to fear.

What I DO predict is the name of the comet will change from Bernardinelli-Bernstein to Bernardinelli-Berenstain due to converging timelines...

"They always did things in threes"

a reply to: CloneFarm1000

This.👇

What I DO predict is the name of the comet will change from Bernardinelli-Bernstein to Bernardinelli-Berenstain due to converging timelines...

I'm laughing a little to hard at this.

a reply to: gortex

85 miles!

And it was out there the whole time we just didn't see it till now. Just imagine how large other objects that we haven't seen might be.
Space is so unbelievably large.

If that thing hit us we would all be dead in about a day.

People will be VOTING for this comet long before it arrives.

So... this is the real reason why "the Willis" has given up acting. I expect Owen Wilson, Idris Elba, Ben Affleck, Christopher Waltz, Zoe Saldina, Heather Swanson and Jeff Goldbloom have all been signed up as crew.
Don't Look Up!

a reply to: gortex

a reply to: Bigburgh

I really would love to see this baby light up! And Member Cheesy
(RIP)

I was unaware we had lost Cheesy , last I remember he was working in some remote location so thought that was the reason for his absence.
Sad.
RiP Cheesy.

Just goes to illustrate the vastness of space that something we consider to be massive is actually only 85 miles wide, which is an infinitesimal speck in the Universe but a world-killing rock in our perspective.

Small and insignificant?
Us?

Yes we are but then again, every instance of energy and matter in the Universe is significant and part of the whole, so maybe we are not so irrelevant after all.