Starship Asterisk*

Ann wrote:
On the other hand, why do the boys get to have all the fun? Who's to say that green little superhero comet isn't Mary Poppins in disguise, propelling herself skywards with her magical (and a lot greener than you'd think) umbrella?

• That would be practically perfect in every way:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comet wrote:

Click to play embedded YouTube video.

<<Cometary nuclei are composed of an amalgamation of rock, dust, water ice, and frozen gases such as carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, methane, and ammonia. As such, they are popularly described as "dirty snowballs" after Fred Whipple's model. However, some comets may have a higher dust content, leading them to be called "icy dirtballs". Research conducted in 2014 suggests that comets are like "deep fried ice cream", in that their surfaces are formed of dense crystalline ice mixed with organic compounds, while the interior ice is colder and less dense.

The surface of the nucleus is generally dry, dusty or rocky, suggesting that the ices are hidden beneath a surface crust several metres thick. In addition to the gases already mentioned, the nuclei contain a variety of organic compounds, which may include methanol, hydrogen cyanide, formaldehyde, ethanol, and ethane and perhaps more complex molecules such as long-chain hydrocarbons and amino acids. In 2009, it was confirmed that the amino acid glycine had been found in the comet dust recovered by NASA's Stardust mission. In August 2011, a report, based on NASA studies of meteorites found on Earth, was published suggesting DNA and RNA components (adenine, guanine, and related organic molecules) may have been formed on asteroids and comets.

The outer surfaces of cometary nuclei have a very low albedo, making them among the least reflective objects found in the Solar System. The Giotto space probe found that the nucleus of Halley's Comet reflects about four percent of the light that falls on it, and Deep Space 1 discovered that Comet Borrelly's surface reflects less than 3% of the light that falls on it [and comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko about six percent]; by comparison, asphalt reflects seven percent. The dark surface material of the nucleus may consist of complex organic compounds. Solar heating drives off lighter volatile compounds, leaving behind larger organic compounds that tend to be very dark, like tar or crude oil. The low reflectivity of cometary surfaces causes them to absorb the heat that drives their outgassing processes.>>

neufer wrote:

Ann wrote:
Ever seen Green Lantern wearing a cape? I haven't! And what is the tail of a comet, if not the superhero's cape?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Scott wrote:

[b][color=#008000]Green Lantern's debut in All-American Comics#16 (July 1940). Art by Sheldon Moldoff.[/color][/b]

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<<The original Green Lantern was created by an American artist named Martin Nodell. Nodell mentions Richard Wagner's opera cycle The Ring of the Nibelung and the sight of a trainman's green railway lantern as his inspiration. After seeing this opera, Nodell sought to create a superhero who wielded a variety of magical powers from a magic ring, which he regularly recharged from a green lantern. Nodell wanted a colorful and interesting costume for his character, deriving from elements of Greek mythology.

Franklin D Roosevelt, giving off a
green glow from his head.

Ann wrote:
Ever seen Green Lantern wearing a cape? I haven't! And what is the tail of a comet, if not the superhero's cape?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Scott wrote:

[b][color=#008000]Green Lantern's debut in All-American Comics#16 (July 1940). Art by Sheldon Moldoff.[/color][/b]

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<<The original Green Lantern was created by an American artist named Martin Nodell. Nodell mentions Richard Wagner's opera cycle The Ring of the Nibelung and the sight of a trainman's green railway lantern as his inspiration. After seeing this opera, Nodell sought to create a superhero who wielded a variety of magical powers from a magic ring, which he regularly recharged from a green lantern. Nodell wanted a colorful and interesting costume for his character, deriving from elements of Greek mythology.

Green Lantern is famous for the oath he recites when he charges his ring:

• ...and I shall shed my light over dark evil.
  For the dark things cannot stand the light,
  The light of the Green Lantern!

Nodell chose the name "Alan Scott" by flipping through New York telephone books until he got two names he liked. The character of Alan Scott made his debut in All-American Comics #16 (July 1940), fighting crime under the masked identity of "Green Lantern". His villains tended to be ordinary humans, but he did have a few paranormal ones, such as the immortal Vandal Savage and the zombie Solomon Grundy.

In 1941, Alan Scott was paired with a sidekick named Doiby Dickles, a rotund Brooklyn taxi driver, who would appear on a regular basis until 1949. In 1948, Alan also got a canine sidekick named Streak. The dog proved so popular that he starred in his own solo side-stories.>>

De58te wrote:
Superman wore a red cape, although he also wore blue and yellow.
But the big point is, have you ever seen Superman wear a green or any color mask?

neufer wrote:

Ann wrote:

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So in today's APOD we see Comet Clark at far left, heroically flying past the backdrop of yellow, red and blue splendour of the Milky Way. I can't help it, ever since my avid Superman-reading days as a kid I associate the name Clark with Superman. I can't help picturing Comet Clark as a tiny little man in a brilliant green cape, a fearless little superhero of the cosmos adding a tiny, tiny glint of green to the local fireworks of red, yellow and blue and the vast, vast cosmic latte.

One might just expect "a girl!" to get this all wrong.

The kid in the photo is clearly dressed as the Green Lantern.

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And 71P/Clark is not green due to
fluorescent diatomic carbon molecules
but simply because it is a remnant
of the green Planet Krypton

Ann wrote:

Click to view full size image

Giant elliptical galaxy M87, and (clockwise) NGC 4476, NGC 4478 and NGC NGC 4486A.
Photo: Robert Gendler.

We live in the days of cosmic latte. Take a sip. It tastes pretty good, but it is pretty beige.

Ann wrote:

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So in today's APOD we see Comet Clark at far left, heroically flying past the backdrop of yellow, red and blue splendour of the Milky Way. I can't help it, ever since my avid Superman-reading days as a kid I associate the name Clark with Superman. I can't help picturing Comet Clark as a tiny little man in a brilliant green cape, a fearless little superhero of the cosmos adding a tiny, tiny glint of green to the local fireworks of red, yellow and blue and the vast, vast cosmic latte.

And 71P/Clark is not green due to
fluorescent diatomic carbon molecules
but simply because it is a remnant
of the green Planet Krypton