Information about comets. The movement of comets. The names of the comets

Since ancient times, people have sought to uncover the secrets that conceal the sky. Since the creation of the first telescope, scientists have been step by step to collect bits of knowledge that are hidden in the vast expanses of space. It's time to find out where the messengers from space came from - comets and meteorites.

What is a comet?

If we investigate the meaning of the word "comet", then we come to its ancient Greek equivalent. Literally it means "with long hair". Thus, the name was given in view of the structure of this heavenly body. The comet has a "head" and a long "tail" - a kind of "hair". The head of a comet consists of a nucleus and near-nuclear substances. The friable core can include water, as well as gases such as methane, ammonia and carbon dioxide. The same structure has a comet Churyumov - Gerasimenko, opened October 23, 1969.

How the comet was represented before

In ancient times, our ancestors reverenced her and invented different superstitions. Even now there are those who connect the appearance of comets with something ghostly and mysterious. Such people may think that they are wanderers from another world of souls. Where did this panic come from ? Perhaps the whole point is that the appearance of these heavenly creatures ever coincided with some unfortunate incident.

However, as time went on, the idea of what constituted small and large comets changed. For example, a scientist such as Aristotle, exploring their nature, decided that this is a glowing gas. In time, another philosopher named Seneca, who lived in Rome, put forward the hypothesis that comets are bodies in the sky moving in their orbits. However, to really advance in their study was obtained only after the creation of the telescope. When Newton discovered the law of gravitation, things went up.

Current ideas about comets

Today, scientists have already established that comets consist of a solid core (from 1 to 20 km in thickness). What is the nucleus of the comet? From a mixture of frozen water and cosmic dust. In 1986, one of the comets was taken. It became clear that its fiery tail is the ejection of a stream of gas and dust that we can observe from the earth's surface. What is the reason for this "fire" release? If an asteroid flies very close to the Sun, then its surface is heated, which leads to the release of dust and gas. Solar energy exerts pressure on the solid material from which the comet is composed. As a result, a tail of fire is formed from the dust. These fragments and dust are part of the trace that we see in the sky when we observe the movement of comets.

What determines the shape of the comet tail

The report on comets, presented below, will help to better understand what a comet is and how they are arranged. They are different - with the tails of all possible forms. It's all about the natural composition of the particles that make up this or that tail. Quite small particles quickly fly away from the Sun, and those that more, on the contrary, tend to the star. What is the reason? It turns out that the first move, pushed by solar energy, away, while the latter are influenced by the gravitational force of the Sun. As a result of the action of these physical laws, we get comets whose tails are bent in different ways. Those tails, which mostly consist of gases, will be directed from the star, while the corpuscular (consisting predominantly of dust), on the contrary, seek the Sun. What about the density of the comet tail? Usually, cloud tails can be measured in millions of kilometers, in some cases by hundreds of millions. This means that, unlike the body of a comet, its tail consists mostly of discharged particles without having practically no density. When an asteroid approaches the Sun, the tail of a comet can bifurcate and acquire a complex structure.

The velocity of particles in the comet tail

Measuring the speed of motion in the tail of a comet is not so easy, since we can not see individual particles. However, there are times when the velocity of matter in the tail can be determined. Sometimes there can condense gas clouds. By their movement, you can calculate the approximate speed. So, the forces moving the comet are so great that the speed can be 100 times greater than the attraction of the Sun.

How much does a comet weigh?

The entire mass of comets depends more on the weight of the head of the comet, or rather, its core. Presumably, a small comet can weigh only a few tons. While, according to forecasts, large asteroids can reach a weight of 1,000,000,000,000 tons.

What are meteors?

Sometimes one of the comets passes through the orbit of the Earth, leaving behind a trace of debris. When our planet passes on the place where the comet was, these fragments and cosmic dust, left from it, enter the atmosphere with great speed. This speed reaches more than 70 kilometers per second. When the fragments of a comet are burned in the atmosphere, we see a beautiful trail. This phenomenon is called meteors (or meteorites).

Age of the comets

Fresh asteroids of enormous size can live in space for trillions of years. However, comets, like any cosmic bodies, can not exist forever. The more often they approach the Sun, the more they lose the solid and gaseous substances that make up their composition. "Young" comets can be very heavily dumped in weight until a kind of protective crust forms on their surface, which prevents further evaporation and burnout. Nevertheless, the "young" comet grows old, and the nucleus grows old and loses its weight and size. Thus, the surface crust acquires a multitude of wrinkles, cracks and fractures. Gas streams, burning, push the body of the comet forward and forward, giving speed to this traveler.

Comet Halley

Another comet, in structure the same as Chumyumov's comet Gerasimenko, is an asteroid discovered by Edmund Halley. He realized that comets have long elliptical orbits along which they move with a large interval of time. He compared the comets that were observed from the earth in 1531, 1607 and 1682. It turned out that it was one and the same comet that moved along its trajectory after a period of time equal to about 75 years. In the end, it was named after the scientist himself.

Comets in the Solar System

We are in the solar system. At least 1,000 comets were found not far from us. They are divided into two families, and they, in turn, are divided into classes. To classify comets, scientists take into account their characteristics: the time for which they are able to go all the way through their orbit, as well as the period from circulation. If we take as an example Halley's comet, mentioned earlier, it passes a complete revolution around the sun in less than 200 years. It refers to periodic comets. However, there are those that overcome all the way for much shorter periods of time - the so-called short-period comets. We can not doubt that in our solar system there is a huge number of periodic comets whose orbits pass around our star. Such celestial bodies can be so far away from the center of our system that Uranus, Neptune and Pluto leave behind. Sometimes they can very closely approach the planets, because of what their orbits change. As an example, comet Encke can be cited.

Information about comets: long-period

The trajectory of motion of long-period comets is very different from short-period comets. They bypass the sun from all sides. For example, Heyakutake and Hale-Bopp. The latter looked very spectacular when they last approached our planet. Scientists have calculated that next time they can be seen from Earth only thousands of years from now. A lot of comets, with a long period of motion can be found on the edge of our solar system. Back in the mid-20th century, the Dutch astronomer put forward the hypothesis of the existence of a cluster of comets. After a while, the existence of a comet cloud, which is known today as the "Oort Cloud", was proved and was named after the scientist who discovered him. How many comets are in the Oort Cloud? By some assumptions, not less than a trillion. The period of motion of some such comets can be equal to several light years. In this case, all the way the comet will overcome for 10 000 000 years!

Fragments of Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9

Reports about comets from around the world help in their research. A very interesting and impressive vision could be observed by astronomers in 1994. More than 20 fragments left from Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 at a crazy speed (about 200,000 kilometers per hour) collided with Jupiter. Asteroids flew into the atmosphere of the planet with flares and huge explosions. The hot gas affected the formation of very large fire spheres. The temperature to which the chemical elements warmed up several times exceeded the temperature that is fixed on the surface of the sun. After that, a very high column of gas could be seen in telescopes. Its height reached a huge size - 3200 kilometers.

Coma Biela is a double comet

As we have already learned, there is ample evidence that comets are being destroyed over time. Because of this, they lose their brightness and beauty. We can consider only one example of such a case - comet Biela. The first time it was discovered in 1772. However, later it was noticed more than once again in 1815, after - in 1826 and in 1832. When it was observed in 1845, it turned out that the comet looks much larger than before. Six months later it turned out that it was not one, but two whole comets that were walking next to each other. What happened? Astronomers have established that a year ago the asteroid Biela split in two. The last time the scientists registered the appearance of this miracle comet. One part of it was much brighter than the other. They never saw her again. However, the meteorite stream, whose orbit exactly coincided with the orbit of comet Biela, was repeatedly caught in time. This case proved that comets are capable of decaying over time.

What happens in a collision

For our planet, meeting with these heavenly bodies does not bode well for anything. A large fragment of a comet or a meteorite measuring approximately 100 meters exploded high in the atmosphere in June 1908. As a result of this disaster, many reindeer died and two thousand kilometers of taiga fell. What would happen if such a lump exploded over a large city, such as New York or Moscow? It would be worth living to millions of people. And what would have happened if a comet had hit the Earth, the diameter of which is several kilometers? As stated above, in mid-July 1994, the planet Jupiter was "fired" with fragments of Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9. Millions of scientists observed what was happening. What would be the outcome of such a clash for our planet?

Comets and Earth - the views of scientists

Information about comets, known to scientists, sows fear in their hearts. Astronomers and analysts with horror draw in their minds terrible pictures - a clash with a comet. When an asteroid flies into the atmosphere, it will cause irreversible processes of destruction inside the cosmic body. It will explode with a deafening sound, and on the Earth it will be possible to observe a column of meteorite debris - dust and stones. The sky will envelop a fiery red glow. On the Earth there will be no vegetation, because because of the explosion and debris all forests, fields and meadows will be destroyed. Due to the fact that the atmosphere becomes impenetrable to the sun's rays, it will suddenly turn cold, and the plants will not be able to perform the role of photosynthesis. Thus, the cycles of feeding of marine inhabitants are disturbed. For a long time without food, many of them will die. All of the above events will affect the natural cycles. Acute acid rains will have a detrimental effect on the ozone layer, so that it will be impossible to breathe on our planet. What happens if a comet falls into one of the oceans? Then it can lead to devastating ecological disasters: the formation of tornadoes and tsunamis. The only difference is that these cataclysms will be much larger than those that we could feel for ourselves for several thousand years of human history. Huge waves of hundreds or thousands of meters will sweep away everything in its path. There will be nothing left from towns and cities.

"Do not worry"

Other scientists, on the contrary, say that there is no need to worry about such cataclysms. According to them, if the Earth comes close to a heavenly asteroid, it will only lead to the illumination of the sky and the meteor shower. Is it worth worrying about the future of our planet? Is there any chance that we will ever be met by a flying comet?

The fall of a comet. Is it worth it to be afraid

Is it possible to trust everything that scientists represent? Do not forget that all the information about comets written above is just theoretical assumptions that can not be verified. Of course, such fantasies can sow panic in the hearts of people, but the likelihood that someday something similar will happen on Earth is negligible. Scientists who explore our solar system, admire the extent to which everything is thought out in its design. Meteorites and comets are difficult to reach our planet, because it is protected by a giant shield. The planet Jupiter, because of its size, has a huge gravity. Therefore, it often protects our Earth from flying past asteroids and remnants of comets. The place where our planet is located, leads many to the idea that the whole device was thought out and designed in advance. And if this is so, and you are not a zealous atheist, then you can sleep peacefully, for the Creator will undoubtedly save the Earth for the purpose for which it created it.

The names of the most famous

The report on comets from various scientists from around the world is a huge database of information about cosmic bodies. Among the most notable are several. For example, comet Churyumov - Gerasimenko. In addition, in this article we could get acquainted with the comet of Foemaker-Levy 9 and comets Encke and Halley. In addition to them, it is known not only to sky explorers, but also to fans of Sadulayev's comet. In this article, we tried to provide the most complete and verified information about comets, their structure and contact with other celestial bodies. However, as it is impossible to embrace all the expanses of the cosmos, it will not be possible to describe or list all the comets known at the moment. Brief information about the comets of the solar system is shown in the illustration below.

Studies of the sky

The knowledge of scientists, of course, does not stand still. What we know now, we did not know any 100 or even 10 years ago. We can be sure that the indefatigable desire of a person to explore the expanses of the cosmos will further push him into attempts to understand the structure of celestial bodies: meteorites, comets, asteroids, planets, stars and other more powerful objects. Now we have penetrated into such expanses of the cosmos, that meditation on its immensity and unknowability casts awe. Many agree that all this could not appear in and of itself. Such a complex construction must have an intention. However, many questions related to the structure of space, and remain unanswered. It seems that the more we learn, the more there is a reason to investigate further. In fact, the more information we acquire, the more we understand that we do not know our solar system, our Galaxy, the Milky Way and even more so the Universe. However, all this does not stop astronomers, and they continue to fight over the riddles of existence. Each comet flying nearby is of special interest to them.

Computer program "Space Engine"

Fortunately, today not only astronomers can explore the universe, but ordinary people, whose curiosity prompts them to do so. Not so long ago, a program for computers "Space Engine" was released. It is supported by most modern middle-class computers. It can be completely downloaded and installed free of charge, using the search on the Internet. Thanks to this program, information about comets for children will also be very interesting. It presents a model of the entire universe, including all comets and celestial bodies, which today are known to modern scientists. To find the cosmic object of interest , for example, a comet, you can use the built-in search engine. For example, you need a comet Churyumov - Gerasimenko. In order to find it, you need to enter its serial number 67 R. If you are interested in another object, for example, Comet Sadulayev. Then you can try to enter its name in Latin or enter its special number. Thanks to this program you can learn more about space comets.