Starship Asterisk*

[quote=JimB post_id=338168 time=1712564632 user_id=147260]
[quote=Ann post_id=338167 time=1712550845 user_id=129702]

Does this mean that the release of gas from the parent body of Pons-Brooks is "episodic"? Like a series of little explosions?

Ann
[/quote]
It probably depends on the exact chemical composition, the physical structure of the material and how long each surface is in the full glare of the sun as the comet rotates. These amazing images from ROSETTA give some idea of the chaotic nature of outgassing

Comet67P_NavCamFeb3.jpg
from [url]https://www.universetoday.com/118901/rosettas-comet-really-blows-up-in-latest-images/[/url]
[/quote]

Great post, Jim! I guess that the picture you posted says it all! :D

Ann

What a clever set of pictures!

Surely they could be put together as an animated film, perhaps by using AI to produce interpolated images? Beyond my skills, I fear!

JOhn

[quote=Ann post_id=338167 time=1712550845 user_id=129702]

Does this mean that the release of gas from the parent body of Pons-Brooks is "episodic"? Like a series of little explosions?

Ann
[/quote]
It probably depends on the exact chemical composition, the physical structure of the material and how long each surface is in the full glare of the sun as the comet rotates. These amazing images from ROSETTA give some idea of the chaotic nature of outgassing

[attachment=0]Comet67P_NavCamFeb3.jpg[/attachment]
from [url]https://www.universetoday.com/118901/rosettas-comet-really-blows-up-in-latest-images/[/url]

Very interesting to see the changing ion tail of Comet Pons-Brooks!


[img3="The Changing Ion Tail of Comet Pons-Brooks.
Image Credit & Copyright: Shengyu Li & Shaining"]https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/image/2404/Comet12pTails_ShengyuLi_960.jpg[/img3]


Does this mean that the release of gas from the parent body of Pons-Brooks is "episodic"? Like a series of little explosions?

Ann

[url=https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap240408.html] [img]https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/calendar/S_240408.jpg[/img] [size=150]The Changing Ion Tail of Comet Pons-Brooks[/size][/url]

[b] Explanation: [/b] How does a comet tail change? It depends on the comet. The ion tail of [url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/12P/Pons%E2%80%93Brooks]Comet 12P/Pons–Brooks[/url] has been changing markedly, as detailed in the featured image sequenced over nine days from March 6 to 14 (top to bottom). On some days, the comet's [url=http://www2.ess.ucla.edu/~jewitt/tail.html]ion tail[/url] was relatively long and complex, but not every day. Reasons for tail changes include the rate of [url=https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap151118.html]ejection of material[/url] from the [url=https://www.cometcampaign.org/files/images/comets_spacecraft.jpg]comet's nucleus[/url], the strength and complexity of the [url=https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap240219.html]passing solar wind[/url], and the [url=https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap240318.html]rotation rate[/url] of the [url=https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/comets/]comet[/url]. Over the course of a week, apparent changes even include a change of perspective from the Earth. In general, a comet's [url=https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/comets/en/anatomy-of-a-comet.en.jpg]ion tail will point away from the Sun[/url], as gas expelled is pushed out by the [url=https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap000318.html]Sun's wind[/url]. Today, [url=https://earthsky.org/tonight/12-p-comet-pons-brooks-outburst-millennium-falcon-bright-2024-eclipse/]Pons-Brooks[/url] may become a rare comet [url=https://live.staticflickr.com/5613/15634745431_af629b9374.jpg]suddenly visible[/url] in the middle of the day for those able to see the [url=https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap170820.html]Sun totally eclipsed by the Moon[/url].


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