Universe Sandbox
Universe Sandbox Legacy => Universe Sandbox 2008 | Discussion => Topic started by: APODman on February 11, 2010, 03:51:14 PM
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"A sungrazing comet is a comet that passes extremely close to the Sun at perihelion - sometimes within a few thousand kilometres of the Sun's surface. While small sungrazers can be completely evaporated during such a close approach to the Sun, larger sungrazers can survive many perihelion passages. However, strong evaporation and tidal forces they experience often lead to their fragmentation."
source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sungrazing_comet
In honor of the 30th anniversary, last year, of the first Sungrazer to be viewed from space I did a small simulation sungrazer called "SOLWIND 1" which shows the impressive approach of this type of comet to the Sun: This comet reached striking distance of 0.0048 AU from the Sun at its perihelion!
(http://cometography.com/lcomets/1979q1_19790830sol.jpg)
"These images were obtained with the SOLWIND white light coronagraph aboard the Air Force Space Test Program satellite P78-1 on 1979 August 30. The left-hand image is the first image showing the comet, while the right-hand image was the last showing the comet's head. Venus is located on the left side of each image."
source: http://cometography.com/lcomets/1979q1.html
Compare the image above to this of the simulation at point of view of Earth:
(http://img163.imageshack.us/img163/3512/solwind1b.gif)
Apparently he did not survive the approach because it has not been re-emerge from behind the Sun after its perihelion.
As the simulation shows, the hyperbolic orbit of the comet would not collide with the Sun, it would take a great aproximation, this disappearance was probably due to the comet's total defragmentation at closest approach followed by its vaporization:
(http://img704.imageshack.us/img704/5719/solwind1c.gif)
note: For the simulation to be successful demonstrating their great approximation of the comet with the Sun, is important not increasing the original timestep of the simulation ( patience, patience ;) ) !
note2: In time, NASA last year has just announced a project in which anyone can help in the search for new Sungrazers comets ( and others objects like the eventual remains of hypothetical planet Theia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theia_%28planet%29#Theia) ) in pictures and videos taken by SOHO and STEREO probes.
For more information about this project follow this links:
- http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/stereo/news/gravity_parking.html
- http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2009/09apr_theia.htm
The official site of the project:
- http://sungrazer.nrl.navy.mil/index.php?p=introduction
The simulation file are attached.
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I've made a little movie of a hypothetical sungrazer comet fragmentation:
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPmUD2oyzTE
Interesting to note that the fragments follow the approximate orbital characteristcs ( orbital elements ) of the "parent" object.
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Cool.
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Awesome post and video.
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Interesting... It's very intersting that I use NRL for cyclones.
http://nrlmry.navy.mil/
And this is nrl also. I think. Right?
Edit: And where am I supposed to help find comets?
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Interesting... It's very intersting that I use NRL for cyclones.
http://nrlmry.navy.mil/
And this is nrl also. I think. Right?
Edit: And where am I supposed to help find comets?
NeutronStar at the offical site of the project look at right:
"Reporting Objects
Recent Reports
SOHO Objects
STEREO Objects
STEREO L4/L5 Campaign"
This is the campaigns, click in some. :)
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Awesome post and video.
Thanks Dan !
Attached are the file of the simulation of sungrazer fragmentation for the others users.
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Nice. Never knew comets would go that close. The universe is amazing. :P