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Originally posted by alfa1
Originally posted by LightAssassin
Download Google Earth, then change option to Google sky, then punch in the below boldened co-ordinates, now, as far as I can see, comets just go in an orbit, that is to say, a straightish (obviously a slight curvateur otherwise it wouldnt be an orbit would it) line....not shimmying left and right as this comet is doing.
I've got a better idea. Get away from google ANYTHING and go outside with your eyes or preferably with a pair of binoculars and start learning some practical astronomy by DOING it.
I cant believe this thread got to page 4 before anyone (me) had to point out that the "hard banking turn" is perfectly normal and expected.
This is where to find comet Elenin in the sky...
[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/d8a7aae5e2be.gif[/atsimg]
and yes it shimmys left and right, for sure.
Its not the only comet that does it. Here is comet Holmes doing a flippy flip in Perseus...
[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/94bfca07ece1.gif[/atsimg]
Asteroids do it too. Here is asteriod Vesta...
[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/c63918f67d1c.gif[/atsimg]
and see, it shimmys left and right.
Planets do it too.
Here is Mars doing some hard banking turns...
[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/46aaed12260e.gif[/atsimg]
The reason is the effect known as "apparent retrograde motion"
Wikipedia
The comet/planet/asteriod doesnt actually move back and forth doing those "hard banking turns", but its just an effect of trying to watch that moving object while you're standing on another moving object (the earth).
For those too lazy to visit wikipedia and read about, look at this pic instead...
[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/098a89848f9d.gif[/atsimg]
I hope this clears up what appears to have been a big misunderstanding.
And I repeat what I said earlier about going outside and looking at stuff in the sky.
DO it, dont google sky it.
Originally posted by LightAssassin
And honestly, I am really looking for a perfectly normal understandable explanation as to why it exhibits this directional change over the course of 4-5- days...not weeks or months
Originally posted by LightAssassin
WHO HAS PLOTTED ELENINS PATH IN GOOGLE SKY FROM THE CO-ORDINATES GIVEN ON NASA JPL?!?!?!
IT'S NOT A COMET. OVER A 6 DAY PERIOD, TRAVELLING AT A SUPPOSED 85,000KM/H, IT MADE A HARD BANKING TURN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
YOU FOOLS. IT'S NOT A COMET.
Oh, whats the 'Official' Size of the comet? Who knows!!!! Whats the official size of the Coma? It has grown from 80,000km in diameter to over 100,000km in diameter!!!
Why was NASA's Buzzroom shutdown after someone posted new trajectory of the comet claiming it to be on course to make contact with Earth?
Why was he able to spot a comet, with a very high magnitude (which I think means almost impossible to see), with very limited equipment when astronomers around the world, with far more powerful equipment weren't able to see it???
and for those who aren't concerned...I guess ignorance is bliss. So be it.
Originally posted by LightAssassin
reply to post by ngchunter
Yeh mate, I'm still removing foot from my mouth. Haha, I can also see the hypocrosy of accusing someone of being ignorant when my line-of-thought isn't educated enough to understand ALL the concepts.
Thanks for sticking the boot in just that little bit more.
And I do apologise for calling people fools. As it happens, I am the fool.
Yes, and it DOES NOT explain why Elenin makes a sharp turn OVER A 7 DAY PERIOD.
Originally posted by jumpspace
LightAssasin
Comet Elenin does suffer from apparent retrograde motion, however IT DOES NOT change direction on the date range you supplied.
Cheers
JS
Originally posted by LightAssassin
reply to post by ngchunter
Yeh mate, I'm still removing foot from my mouth. Haha, I can also see the hypocrosy of accusing someone of being ignorant when my line-of-thought isn't educated enough to understand ALL the concepts.
Thanks for sticking the boot in just that little bit more.
And I do apologise for calling people fools. As it happens, I am the fool.
Sorry, what was that...I couldnt hear you....