Comet to Closely Pass Mars

The Chronicler · **on:** June 20, 2014, 09:45:54 PM

www.space.com/26309-comet-siding-spring-mars-spacecraft.html

Less than a month ago, a new comet was discovered on its first journey into the solar system. What makes this one significant is that, on October 19 later this year, it is expected to pass very close by to Mars (83,000mi/132,000km), much closer than the Moon is to Earth, close enough for the comet's coma to actually interact with the Martian atmosphere. I don't think there has ever been a comet passing this close to Earth in all of recorded history, so this really is a rare event. Considering all of the space probes currently on or orbiting Mars, this should make for quite a remarkable scientific opportunity.

LBTLover1 · **Reply #1 on:** June 21, 2014, 10:42:03 AM

So if it does interact could it have a giant altercation? I don't think of much of a significant change to mars would occur if something like that did happen, but you never know...

I wonder if we could view it from where we stand?

Chiletrek · **Reply #2 on:** June 21, 2014, 02:26:10 PM

Hello:
Ohh, this might be the comet I have heard about a while ago!

I am not really sure how much alterations could cause to Mars' atmosphere, but a little alteration in the comet's trajectiry and it may go crash in the planet. Either way it will be a very rare event and much worth gathering as much data as piossible.

thanks for the link!

.

rhombus · **Reply #3 on:** June 21, 2014, 06:29:55 PM

Very interesting, thanks for sharing the link. It will be a rare opportunity to collect data on the disruption of a comet by a planet's gravitational pull. With five probes either on or circling Mars right now (have we ever had that many operational probes around a planet at one time? Besides Earth, I mean.) the event will be covered from many different vantage points.

The Chronicler · **Reply #4 on:** October 14, 2014, 10:40:10 PM

Just less than a week left to go now. I can't wait to see what we'll discover from this close encounter between a comet and a planet.

The Chronicler · **Reply #5 on:** October 19, 2014, 08:30:34 PM

At this time, the comet's closest approach to Mars was about six hours ago (2:27 EDT). Since it takes some time to process the data from the various space probes around Mars, don't expect any images of that comet to show up until a few days from now. Either way, I'm honestly quite thrilled by this rare event.

vonboy · **Reply #6 on:** October 19, 2014, 08:34:16 PM

It'll be cool to see the images, then.

rhombus · **Reply #7 on:** October 19, 2014, 08:42:03 PM

I look forward to seeing the results of the observations.

Kor · **Reply #8 on:** October 19, 2014, 10:27:17 PM

I hope there are some cool images sooner or later. I wonder if science found out anything new from this.

Nick22 · **Reply #9 on:** October 20, 2014, 07:50:45 PM

Mars does not have much of an atmosphere, if it did, its possible that the planets gravity could have changed the comets course enough so it would hit. a comet coming that close to earth would be a problem. a comet coming that close to Jupiter would be torn apart and its pieces would impact the planet.