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What's gotten hearts beating a little faster since the discovery is that Comet Elenin is still more than 4 astronomical units (375 million miles) from the Sun and headed inbound. It's still early, and the calculated orbit is certain to change in the weeks ahead as more position measurements are made, but right now it appears that the comet's perihelion will occur well inside Earth's orbit, about 0.45 a.u. (42 million miles) from the Sun, next September 5th.
"During the month of September 2011, the comet should become bright enough to be an easy target for backyard astronomers in North America."
The first item of note is that, with the update on the orbit of Elenin, which was made on 09 Jan 11, that is 9-1-11 (interesting, no?), it is scheduled to reach perihelion on the 9th of September, that is: 9-9-11. Another interesting numerical combo.
Originally posted by Pauligirl
Comet Elenin will pass very close to STEREO-B in July 2011. See the orbit simulation here.
secchi.nrl.navy.mil...
it's just a comet
Originally posted by meremortal
so only folk in north america will see it then?
Yes and we happen to have a black president as they did in that movie
Originally posted by CitizenAlpha
Ok this is kinda out there but the first thing that popped into my mind when i saw this was, Remember that Movie Deep Impact? the Cover up for the story was called ( Ele ) Eleain ??? Extinction level event.
Originally posted by Lastone
fireballs-meteorites.blogspot.com... ing.html
The first item of note is that, with the update on the orbit of Elenin, which was made on 09 Jan 11, that is 9-1-11 (interesting, no?), it is scheduled to reach perihelion on the 9th of September, that is: 9-9-11. Another interesting numerical combo.