COMETS
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COMETS
Whereas, in ancient days, comets were considered to be harbingers of ill-fortune, nowadays they provide possible answers as to the origins of our Solar System. Composition of comets, structure and their behaviour-patterns in the Solar System. Comets’ orbits, origins and evolution. Halley’s Comet. Space-probes sent to meet Halley’s and its true composition. Summary.
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INTRODUCTION
- It was commonly thought that comets were harbingers of ill-fortune and that the appearance of a comet in the sky always preceded great disasters and plagues.
- Studying comets might help clear up some doubts concerning the origins of the Solar System, the Universe and perhaps even matter itself.
COMETS
- The most commonly-accepted theory about the composition of comets maintains that they are mainly made up of ice and particles of dust.
- What happens as comets approach the Sun
- The comet’s nucleus and tail.
- When are comets seen?
- Comets follow orbits that may last different periods of time
- The Halley’s Comet. The Kohoutek Comet
ORIGIN AND EVOLUTION OF COMETS
- It is generally thought that there are millions of comets on the outskirts of our Solar System, making up what is known as “The Cloud of Oort”.
- How is the Cloud of Oort formed?
THE HALLEY’S COMET
- The Chinese probably observed the “Halley’s Comet” more than 2,000 years ago. We know that it was clearly seen 467 years before the birth of Jesus Christ.
- It has been crossing our skies every 76 years and the last time it did so was back in March 1986.
- Vega 1 and Vega 2 were two Soviet probes, whilst the Japanese space-probes were called Suisei and Sakigake.
- These four probes sent back information about the shape of the comet’s nucleus, the composition of its dust, and the gases contained in it and information about the comet’s “halo”.
- The European Space Agency launched the probe Giotto.
- The most important observatories on Earch co-ordinated their investigations, thereby achieving a degree of scientific co-operation that was entirely without precedent.
- Data received in the process of studying the Halley’s Comet.
SUMMARY |
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