Looks like the 5th angel is about to sound his trumpet.

https://nypost.com/2023/10/17/...l&utm_source=twitter

By Ben Cost
Published Oct. 17, 2023, 11:31 a.m. ET

The iceball cometh.

As if things didn’t seem apocalyptic enough already, scientists reported that a “horned” comet three times bigger than Mount Everest exploded and is hurtling toward Earth.

The blast originated on Oct. 5 from 12P/Pons-Brooks a cryovolcanic — or cold volcano — comet that measures a colossal 18.6 miles in diameter, or the size of a small city, Live Science reported.

For reference, Mount Everest, the highest mountain on Earth, is 29,029 feet high — or about 5.5 miles.

This marked the second time this interstellar ice cube erupted in the last four months, with the last celestial event occurring in July, the Science Times reported.

The British Astronomical Association, which is closely monitoring 12P, caught wise to this explosion after noticing that it appeared dozens of times brighter due to the light reflected by its coma — the cloud of gas surrounding its center.



For the uninitiated, such eruptions occur when a large level of gas and ice amasses and combusts like a frozen Coke can, causing the comet’s frosty insides to burst out of large cracks that form in the nucleus crust.

In this instance, the arctic blast caused the coma to sprout “horns” like some sort of intergalactic Beelzebub, as seen in accompanying photos.

Scientists also compared the satanic shape to the Millennium Falcon spaceship from “Star Wars,” Space Weather Archive reported.

The cause of the horns is unclear, however, experts believe that it could be caused by the shape of 12P’s nucleus — à la an interstellar pasta strainer.

“The two ‘horns’ may be caused by a peculiarly-shaped cryovolcanic vent with some sort of blockage causing material to be expelled with a weird flow pattern,” said Richard Miles of the British Astronomical Association.

Despite 12P’s ominous trajectory and shape, there’s no need to brace for “Deep Impact” just yet.

The celestial hailstone — which orbits around the sun every 71 years — won’t reach its closest point to Earth until 2024, whereupon it will become visible to the naked eye.

This comet will then be catapulted back into the solar system, and won’t make its cosmic comeback tour until the year 2095.

This is 12P’s second explosion since July 20, when the interstellar snowball blew its stack for the first time in 69 years.

During this eruption, the horn-like emissions were 7,000 times wider than the comet itself.

The coma has since shrunk back to its regular size but could attract more interest next year if it continues to explode — which will likely be the case, per Space Weather Archive.

First discovered by Jean-Louis Pons on July 12, 1812, 12P is reportedly one of 20 known comets with active ice volcanoes, Miles claims.

Perhaps the most famous is 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann, a volcanically active body that expelled approximately 1 million tons of cryomagma into space this past December, marking its largest eruption in 12 years.

A comet crashing into the Earth was always my retirement plan. I'd like to put it off a few more years, but this is encouraging.

Horns?

What a crock of shit.

I hardly process content anymore, I just want all these "journalists" to be homeless.

quote:

Originally posted by DoctorSolo:
Horns?

What a crock of shit.

I hardly process content anymore, I just want all these "journalists" to be homeless.

In this case, you should lay blame where it belongs, the scientist who coined the term.

quote:

During this eruption, the horn-like emissions were 7,000 times wider than the comet itself.

Well… on occasion.

So we are about to be assailed by a horny comet? Sheesh! I can't catch a break.....

I don’t see any similarity to the Millennium Falcon. Looks like either the Enterprise NCC-1701-A or PAC-MAN. Imagine that, the Earth getting eaten by an interstellar PAC-MAN. GAME OVER

Para may get his wish yet........

This message has been edited. Last edited by: sgalczyn,

quote:

the highest mountain on Earth, is 29,029 feet high

I was going to correct that until I went back and saw 'Highest' and not 'Tallest'.

Mauna Kea in Hawaii is the tallest mountain on the planet. I'm just being a dick here...

As for the comet ... a whole lot of which starts with trying to scare us....

Kind of reminds me of one of Ron White’s lines, “ pour me another scotch and let’s not worry about it”. Or something similar…

I can't wait to hear how this will affect the climate.

Para, you know something you're not telling us?

So in one breath it's "A comet exploded and is hurtling toward Earth! OMG, we're all gonna die! Tomorrow!" Then: "Its closest approach to Earth will be sometime next year, and then it won't return for another 71 years." So much for Deep Impact. Sensational headlines, much?

Despite the sensation, I do find this stuff interesting. The shear distance and timeline of space is mind boggling. I wish I knew more.

Will make for an interesting telescope target if it’s visible her in the northern hemisphere

quote:

Originally posted by Expert308:
So in one breath it's "A comet exploded and is hurtling toward Earth! OMG, we're all gonna die! Tomorrow!" Then: "Its closest approach to Earth will be sometime next year, and then it won't return for another 71 years."

Dude, it all depends on the definition of "towards". It's not a lie if it's basically true. Towards is basically "in the direction of" and in astronomical terms, they are right.
And that title really sells the clicks and its ALL about the clicks.

History repeating itself?

quote:

Originally posted by 6guns:
Despite the sensation, I do find this stuff interesting. The shear distance and timeline of space is mind boggling. I wish I knew more.

“Space is big. You just won't believe how vastly, hugely, mind-bogglingly big it is. I mean, you may think it's a long way down the road to the chemist's, but that's just peanuts to space.”

quote:

Originally posted by Loswsmith:

quote:

Originally posted by Expert308:
So in one breath it's "A comet exploded and is hurtling toward Earth! OMG, we're all gonna die! Tomorrow!" Then: "Its closest approach to Earth will be sometime next year, and then it won't return for another 71 years."

Dude, it all depends on the definition of "towards". It's not a lie if it's basically true. Towards is basically "in the direction of" and in astronomical terms, they are right.
And that title really sells the clicks and its ALL about the clicks.

Never said it was a lie. Just really bad "reporting".