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Comet C/2017 S3 has an eccentricity of 1.0000787, which makes its orbit hyperbolic. Its inclination is about 99 degrees to the plane of the solar system. This makes it very unlikely that it a comet from our own solar system, kicked into a hyperbolic, sun-escaping orbit by a close encounter with Jupiter.
Comet PanSTARRS is falling toward the sun from the Oort cloud, a vast reservoir of fresh comets in the distant outer solar system. It has never visited the inner planets before, and, as a result, no one can say what will happen when its fragile ices are exposed to solar heat as it approaches the sun in August.
That PANSTARR designation is kind of confusing!
It could still go "poof" which would be pretty cool! (I vote for "poof").
Comet C/2017 S3 (PANSTARRS) Orbit Diagram
… This 3d orbit diagram is a feature of our 3D Solar System Simulator and shows the orbit of Comet C/2017 S3 (PANSTARRS) with respect of the Sun and the orbits of the major planets. The position of Comet C/2017 S3 (PANSTARRS) and the planets along their orbits in this diagram accurately represents the current configuration of the objects in the Solar System. This is an experimental feature …
originally posted by: Phage
a reply to: Blue Shift
I never said it wasn't a probe.
Remember that.
But Jewitt pointed out that it's difficult for such models to remain accurate as they reach further back in time. The model also doesn't take into account non-gravitational forces, such as the push an icy body may get when the sun warms one side, causing its frozen reserves to sublimate.
originally posted by: Phage
a reply to: TEOTWAWKIAIFF
I've been disappointed by predictions about how bright a comet might get, too many times.
But +4? Not even a little bit encouraging.
originally posted by: Phage
Neither a hyperbolic orbit nor a high inclination is an indication that an object is from outside the Solar System.
originally posted by: Phage
a reply to: Blue Shift
I never said it wasn't a probe.
Remember that.