APOD: Pacman and Hartley (2010 Oct 07)

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APOD Robot
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APOD: Pacman and Hartley (2010 Oct 07)

Post by APOD Robot » Thu Oct 07, 2010 4:02 am

Image Pacman and Hartley

Explanation: Touring the solar system with a 6 year orbital period, small comet Hartley 2 (103/P Hartley) will make its closest approach to planet Earth on October 20 and its closest approach to the Sun on October 28. It may become a naked-eye comet, just visible in clear, dark skies. Meanwhile the comet has been a tempting telescopic target, seen here with an alluring green coma as it shares the frame with emission nebula NGC 281 and stars of the constellation Cassiopeia on October 2. The nebula's gaping profile defined by dust clouds against the red glow suggests its more playful moniker, the Pacman Nebula. An apparent short bright streak shows the comet's motion against the background stars during the hour of accumulated exposure time. Over the next few days Comet Hartley 2's motion will also carry it across a field of view featuring the famous double star cluster in Perseus. On November 4 a spacecraft from planet Earth will actually fly within about 700 kilometers of the comet's nucleus. Now dubbed EPOXI, that spacecraft was formerly known as Deep Impact.

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Ann
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Re: APOD: Pacman and Hartley (2010 Oct 07)

Post by Ann » Thu Oct 07, 2010 6:20 am

That's a lovely image! Absolutely beautiful colors. And the comet and the Pacman make a lovely pair! :mrgreen:

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Re: APOD: Pacman and Hartley (2010 Oct 07)

Post by orin stepanek » Thu Oct 07, 2010 12:54 pm

I think my son still has a pacman game with his collection of games. :D
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Re: APOD: Pacman and Hartley (2010 Oct 07)

Post by orin stepanek » Thu Oct 07, 2010 1:01 pm

Orin

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Re: APOD: Pacman and Hartley (2010 Oct 07)

Post by Beyond » Thu Oct 07, 2010 1:55 pm

orin stepanek wrote:Deep Impact! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3eIY_9u-p0g 8-)
Payback for what they did to the Dinosaurs?? :lol: 8-) :lol:
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Re: APOD: Pacman and Hartley (2010 Oct 07)

Post by biddie67 » Thu Oct 07, 2010 4:22 pm

(( grin )) payback, eh? Love it .....

Were there any pictures captured of its possible breakup after the comet was hit?

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Re: APOD: Pacman and Hartley (2010 Oct 07)

Post by neufer » Thu Oct 07, 2010 4:38 pm

biddie67 wrote:
Were there any pictures captured of its possible breakup after the comet was hit?
King Lear > Act IV, scene I

GLOUCESTER: As flies to wanton boys, are we to the gods[; e.g., planets, moons, comets].
They kill us for their sport.
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Re: APOD: Pacman and Hartley (2010 Oct 07)

Post by mexhunter » Thu Oct 07, 2010 4:47 pm

Congratulations to Jaime, photo deserves this recognition.
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