An Early Conclusion for ISON


            By now, we’ve all heard the sad and disappointing news.

            In an earlier post, titled “A Glitter in the Night”, I told you about Comet ISON, a new spectacle of the skies, slated to pass over our planet in December and early January. It was to be bright, beautiful and spectacular, they assured us.

            ISON was a special comet for two reason. The first was, it was brand new and carrying material from the solar system’s infancy, bringing with it a rare opportunity for study.

            The other reason was because it was a sun grazer comet. That means its trajectory was such that it was to pass so close to the sun that it was in danger or melting or breaking up before it reached earth’s naked-eye view.

            Last Thursday, November 28th, was the day it was to make its closest pass to the sun, and, all across the world, scientists watched anxiously though powerful telescopes. ISON disappeared from view behind the sun - - and didn’t come out the other side.

            At least not all of it. A small streak eventually appeared, and some telescopic evidence suggested at least a small chunk of the comet had survived. The latest reports are that even that is fading away.

            The bottom line is, most of the comet has been destroyed by the sun’s intense heat, and our spectacular light show won’t happen.

            It’s a disappointment, to be sure. Many of us were looking forward to the rare sight.

            But all is far from lost.

            We went out to visit acreage-dwelling friends, a few days ago, and got to discussing astronomy over dinner. One of the people at the table actually makes a hobby of the subject, hauling a telescope out to the country and everything. He showed us two beautiful pictures which were a product of this sort of effort.

            The first one was Orion’s Nebula, less imaginatively known as M42. This image showed a brilliant cluster of stars exploding across the sky like they’d been flung up there by the mighty handful. Swoops and dips of blues and pinks form a huge starry cluster surrounded by vivid points of light.

            I’d hardly recovered from that vision, when the second picture was passed around. This one showed another astronomical phenomenon known as “Stephan’s Quintet”. Several glittering galaxies swirled and twirled, so close together that they appeared to nearly be bumping. The smooth ovals glittered in a multitude of beautiful colors. “Spectacular” is the word that comes closest to describing it, but even that seems somehow inadequate.

            I wish I had pictures to share, but you can see some amazing images at the Hubble's Official Website Gallery Page.
 
            It’s positively humbling to think of the amazing things that are happening out there, so far out of our reach.

            The evening came to an end, and as we stepped out on the deck to depart, we found the deep, winter sky, high above the shadowy tree tops, ablaze with silvery stars. Here the big dipper hung upside down, ready to spill its cosmic contents all over the sky. There Orion’s belt shone as brightly and unmistakeably as it has for an age. And high above it all, placid and knowing, the Northern Star winked at us from the darkness.

            It’s a given. With or without ISON’s help, the winter sky is still going to be worth watching this year. It’s one of Mother Nature’s finest works of art.

           

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