Hold Onto Your Towels Please. 2 Questions

I'll be the first to admit that I am no expert in any way, shape or form on space. The only thing I truly know is that space is big...really big...it's so big that...

Well, that's according to a space traveler who carries a towel.

Anyways, excuse the ignorance but I have 2 questions that I have just tried finding the answers to with no luck. So where to go from there? ATS of course!

My questions:

1. Where is the light coming from?

2. Pebbles and sand on the comet? How is this possible if traveling at 30,000 mph?




Thanks to all for your time.

"A man who can travel the depth and breadth of space and still retain ownership of his towel...is a man to be reckoned with."
....is one line I'll always remember.

And if these pebbles can hold onto that rock at that speed...A towel should not pose a problem...right?

But how?

Peace

a reply to: jude11

The light in the image, is from the Sun.

As for the sand and pebbles, remember that there is no air resistance to buffet the looser debris from the surface. There is only the force of the movement through space. Also remember that the comet actually has gravity, although the shape of its gravity well is strange, due to its non spherical construction. Those things in combination keep the smaller rocks and sandy elements on its surface, from just blowing off their current resting places, in favour of more interesting cosmic real estate.

a reply to: jude11

The sun.

Gravity.

It may be weak, but it's enough to hold rocks and pebbles onto the surface as there's no other forces acting on them...yet

originally posted by: TrueBrit
a reply to: jude11

The light in the image, is from the Sun.

As for the sand and pebbles, remember that there is no air resistance to buffet the looser debris from the surface. There is only the force of the movement through space. Also remember that the comet actually has gravity, although the shape of its gravity well is strange, due to its non spherical construction. Those things in combination keep the smaller rocks and sandy elements on its surface, from just blowing off their current resting places, in favour of more interesting cosmic real estate.

About what I was thinking as well.

But this thing is twisting and turning at all times. Would the gravel stay on with all that movement?

The sun? I guess I can go there. Just thought it was too far for that.

Thanks.

Peace

originally posted by: Chadwickus
a reply to: jude11

The sun.

Gravity.

It may be weak, but it's enough to hold rocks and pebbles onto the surface as there's no other forces acting on them...yet

Seems very cool to act that way. Even what looks like sand.

Peace

a reply to: jude11

Yes, you are correct, it is twisting and turning, but there again, so is our planet. So, for that matter, is our galaxy. All things in the universe move, from the tiniest particles, to the heaviest planetary and stellar masses. Even black holes move about!

However, the gravity of the sun keeps our planet from spinning out of orbit and out of the solar system, despite its mind buggering turn of speed, and in the same way, the gravity of that little comet keeps its smaller bits and bobs rooted to its surface with more reliability than one would assume.

And yes, the sun is the light source. It is probable that the camera used to take these shots is VERY sensitive and able to pick up detail at very low light levels.

originally posted by: TrueBrit
a reply to: jude11

Yes, you are correct, it is twisting and turning, but there again, so is our planet. So, for that matter, is our galaxy. All things in the universe move, from the tiniest particles, to the heaviest planetary and stellar masses. Even black holes move about!

However, the gravity of the sun keeps our planet from spinning out of orbit and out of the solar system, despite its mind buggering turn of speed, and in the same way, the gravity of that little comet keeps its smaller bits and bobs rooted to its surface with more reliability than one would assume.

And yes, the sun is the light source. It is probable that the camera used to take these shots is VERY sensitive and able to pick up detail at very low light levels.

Thank you so much for the answers.

I'll bet Mr. Dent knew this as well.

ATS to the rescue!

Peace

a reply to: jude11

Well, he might not have known before he left Earth, but I would imagine he figured it out pretty rapidly when he was exposed to hard vacuum and a lack of gravity for the first time! Ford Prefect on the other hand, pretty hoopy guy. Knew where his towel was at, if you get my drift. Both lads had a Heart of Gold though.

I will now await the cease and desist order from the estate of Douglas Adams.

It's simple ...space aliens used crazy glue instead of standard high tensile strength fasteners .They just wanted to play with earthling scientist's minds . a reply to: jude11

originally posted by: TrueBrit
a reply to: jude11

Well, he might not have known before he left Earth, but I would imagine he figured it out pretty rapidly when he was exposed to hard vacuum and a lack of gravity for the first time! Ford Prefect on the other hand, pretty hoopy guy. Knew where his towel was at, if you get my drift. Both lads had a Heart of Gold though.

I will now await the cease and desist order from the estate of Douglas Adams.

Douglas already got all the fish so what else is there?

Peace

a reply to: jude11

Vogon bailiffs.

They do not want your property. They want to read you a little ditty they thought up when being vile to their underlings!

Ode to the lump of green putty I found in my armpit...

You guys are cracking me up! I began an attempt to describe the Guide to my 8year old today, but all I could get was "it's about space" before saying "you'll enjoy it when you're older"... Then proceeded to sing "so long and thanks for all the fish" to myself while I washed dishes.....

originally posted by: chelsdh
You guys are cracking me up! I began an attempt to describe the Guide to my 8year old today, but all I could get was "it's about space" before saying "you'll enjoy it when you're older"... Then proceeded to sing "so long and thanks for all the fish" to myself while I washed dishes.....

Take him to the end of the Universe, sit in a nice little restaurant...he'll get it.

Peace

The comet 67P (Churyumov-Gerasimenko), is actually 3/4 of the way between Jupiter and Mars.

The sun lights it up just fine from that distance.

Here's a website that will show you real time data of it's location:

www.livecometdata.com...

As for the sand, pebbles and bolders or "Fine Material" staying on it's surface: TrueBrit and others did a good job explaining why. It's gravity is strong enough so that the only other force (solar wind) is not strong enough to disturb that material.

I'm sure when Rosetta's lander bounced, I bet it knocked quite a bit of material up and away from Churry.

I would have thought that as the comet is a matrix of ice and dirt, a lot of the smaller seemingly loose material will actually be frozen to the surface. As the ice sublimates away when it nears the sun it will come loose and we'll be left with the kind if debris that produces our regular meteor showers.

Here I am, brain the size of a planet...

??? Really .. Ok the sun cast light particles that stop on the asteroid not comet. And cause it to lighten the surface. Se concept as a flashlight and an apple.... Vaccumm of space has no resistance when things float weightlessness . The asteroid had gravity just enough to keep all its crumbs on the surface while its flying in outter space.

originally posted by: jude11
I'll be the first to admit that I am no expert in any way, shape or form on space. The only thing I truly know is that space is big...really big...it's so big that...

Well, that's according to a space traveler who carries a towel.

Anyways, excuse the ignorance but I have 2 questions that I have just tried finding the answers to with no luck. So where to go from there? ATS of course!

My questions:

1. Where is the light coming from?

The Sun.

2. Pebbles and sand on the comet? How is this possible if traveling at 30,000 mph?

Thanks to all for your time.

And if these pebbles can hold onto that rock at that speed...A towel should not pose a problem...right?

But how?

Peace

Gravity.

a reply to: TrueBrit

Sand is created by erosion yes?

If so how would it form on an asteroid?

a reply to: jude11

To 1 subjectively its the EU theory association to this particular object in space along with gravity and icing components keeping the smaller objects and particle dust attached as the celestial object is moving through space at high speed...

1 could imagine the fast movement through deep space is generating a static field EM field.

This theory however hasn't been accepted or verified as of yet by some more influential scientific interest of EA*RTH so it remains just a theory. Sort of like a baseball or football with micro deposits of dirt on it. You wouldn't observe the more micro materials present on the football/baseball until you applied some kind of external FORCE to remove it like a rag etc. Otherwise that debris/dirt would remain on the sports ball... Again 1z subjective observation as to what is keeping the possible loose material attached to the fast moving celestial object...

NAMASTE*******