les documents anonymes postés
sur les forums de Usenet, voir :
sci.astro
- 28 Mar 1997, posté par Matthieu - Hale-Bopp
voir aussi le fil de la discussion ou est apparu ce texte
Fil
de discussion Hal-Bopp
| Groups
search result 1 for cyberstation.fr sl9 |
|
De :Matthieu (none@cyberstation.fr)
Objet :Hale-Bopp
Groupes de discussion :sci.astro
| View: Complete Thread (37 articles) |
Original Format |
Date :1997/03/28 |
HALE-BOPP, THE COMET THAT DOES MATH.
For the second consecutive year a large comet travels across our
night =
sky. After the surprise visit of the unexpected Hyakutake, March
1996, =
here comes the long-awaited Hale-Bopp which announced its coming as =
early as July 1995. Even though astronomers observe dozens of comets =
every year thanks to powerful telescopes, it remains an exceptionnal =
and rare event to be able to gaze at one with the naked eye. This is
an =
occasion which makes amateur astronomers as well as lovers of the sky
happy, for with modest means--even a simple pair of
binoculars--anyone =
can discover the magnificence these celestial lights.
But it is also possible to take another look at Hale-Bopp, to set off =
on a spirit of discovery of its peculiar aspects in the world of =
mathematics, of numbers. A comet, given the material nature of its =
nucleus, is subject to the laws of celestial mechanics, those which =
bring it to travel around the Sun tracing an orbit that can be =
described by a certain number of parameters called orbital elements. =
These same parameters are used to explain the revolution of the
planet =
or the evolution of space probes as well as to situate them.
Let us look at some of these elements(1):
a)- Observing Hale-Bopp, the first element that attracts our
attention =
by its particularity, is the 90=F8 inclination (89.43=F8) of its orbit=
al =
plan in relation to the ecliptic(2). This is the most typical incline =
we can find except for 0=F8 and 180=F8 which would be confused with =
ecliptic.
b)- The orbital plan of a comet (or a planet) intersects the ecliptic =
plan following the line of the "nodes". The ascending node (A.N.) is =
the point where the comet crosses the ecliptic in the direction
South-
North. The descending node (D.N.) is the opposite point where it =
redescends from North to South. It is the longitude of A.N. that =
expresses the orientation of this line on the ecliptic. The longitude =
of the A.N. of Hale-Bopp is 282.47=F8; it is interesting to compare
this =
with the longitude of the aphelion(3) of the Earth which is
281.57=F8--a =
difference of 1.1=F8.
If we observe another particularity in the same zone of the sky, in =
this case the distance between the aphelion of the Earth (281.57=F8)
and =
the D.N. of the planet Jupiter (280.44=F8) which is also 1.1=F8, we mu=
st =
admit that the similarity of these two figures is astonishing.
c)- Below is a chronological and comparative table which shows the =
direct connections and symetries between Earth or Solar events and
the =
parameters of Hale-Bopp. This is inexhaustive list open to
verification =
and improvement by astronomer friends.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------=
------
Solar and Earth Events Time Intervals Comet Events
(Days)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------=
------
I I 07-23-95 Discovery
I **I 03-05-96 Hale-Bopp at its
A.N.
I I =
I I 03-18-96 R =3D 5 AU
I / 2 / I =
Vernal Equinox (8:04UT) 03-20-96 I I =
I \10.5\I =
I I 03-30-96 D =3D 5 AU
I /I \5.5days\
I /10.5/I 04-05-96 Close
Approach
[04-03 Lunar Eclipse] I/ I /5.5days/ to
Jupiter
3rd Quart. of Moon(23:26UT)04-10-96 I - - - I 04-10-96 R =3D D
[04-17 Solar Eclipse] I I =
I I =
Victory Anniversary 1945 05-08-96 I - - - I 05-08-96 # Lunar
Occultation of HB
I I # D =3D 4 AU
Jupiter at D.N (Lg:280.4=F8) 06-06-96 I - - - I Linked with 12-12-96
I I =
Summer Solstice (2:24UT) 06-21-96 I I =
I \ 2 \ I =
I I 06-23-96 R =3D 4 AU
I I =
(RETURN) Flag Day (USA) 14-06-96 I I =
I \ 10 \I =
I I 06-24-96 D =3D 3 AU
I / 10 /I =
Independence Day (USA) 07-04-96 I - - - I 07-04-96 Sun,Earth,Jupiter
aline
I I with Hale-Bopp's
orbital
I I plan
1st Quart. of Moon(11:23UT)09-20-96 I I =
I \ 1 \ I =
I I 09-21-96 R =3D 3 AU
I / 1 / I =
Autumnal Equinox (18:01UT) 09-22-96 I I =
I \2.5\ I =
I I 09-25-96 R =3D D =3D 2.95 =
AU
I /2.5/ I =
Lunar Eclipse (2:54UT) 09-27-96 I I =
I )7-8 I =
3rd Quart. of Moon(12:04UT)10-04-96 I - - - I 10-04-96 # D =3D 3 AU; #Lin=
e
Earth-
I )7-8 I Sun perpendicular
with
Solar eclipse (14:02UT) 10-12-96 I I Earth's large axis
I )19 I =
Halloween (USA) 10-31-96 I I =
I \ 19 \I =
(D =3D 3 UA REPEAT 10-04-96)I- 45 -I 11-19-96 D =3D 3 AU =
I I =
Thanksgiving Day (USA) 11-28-96 I I =
I \ 7 \ I =
I I 12-05-96 Decl.=3D0=3DHB in
equat.plan
I 7( I =
Anom.Jupit.=3DLg D.N(280.4=F8) 12-12-96 I - - - I 12-12-96 R =3D 2 AU
(see 06-06-96) I /I
I / 9 / I =
Winter Solstice (14:07UT) 12-21-96 I I
I \ 9 \ I =
I I 12-30-96 Equatorial
Conjunction
I / 2 / I Sun-Hale-Bopp
# New Year's Day 01-01-97 I I =
# Perihelion Earth I \ 2 \ I 01-03-97 # Earth (Lg:102=F8=
)
in
I I Hale-Bopp's
orbit.plan
I I =
I I 12-23-96
Lg.Earth=3DAnom.HB=3D91.4=F8
I / 2 / I =
(RETURN) Christmas 12-25-96 I I
I \ 2 \ I =
I I 12-27-96 # D=3D2 times
dist.perigee
I I (2.630=3D2*1.315=
)
I I # R=3D2 times
dist.perihe.
I I (1.828=3D2*0.914=
)
(REPEAT 01-01-97)I I =
I \ 31 \I =
I I 02-01-97 D =3D 2 AU
I /31 /I =
I / I 03-01-97 HB at Zenith of =
I/ 3( I location's
discovery
Dist. Sun-Jupit.=3D5.11 AU 03-04-97 I - - **I 03-04-97 # HB plumb with
Sun
=3D dist.A.N de HB-Soleil I\ I # Dist.HB at its
A.N=3DJupiter's
I \ 1 \ I half large axis=3D5.2
UA
I \I
I I 03-05-97 Angle
Earth-Sun-HB=3D90=F8
I I =
[Solar Eclipse] 03-09-97 I - - - I 03-09-97 # R =3D 1 AU #
Theta maxi.
I \ 1\ I of 1st semester
(46.2=F8)
I I 03-10-97 Theta =3D Beta
I I =
Vernal Equinoxe (13:55UT) 03-20-97 I - - - I 03-20-97 #
Decl.=3DTheta=3D45.3=F8
I\ I # Square Root of
R^2+D^2=3D
I\\ 1 \ I 1.618 (Golden
Section)
I \ I 03-21-97 R.A. =3D 0=F8
I \2 \ I
I I 03-22-97 #
Equat.Conjunct.Sun-HB
I /I # Perigee D =3D
1.315 AU
I / I # D/R =3D Square
Root of 2
I / 2/ I
[Lunar Eclipse] 03-24-97 I - - - I 03-24-97 Beta Maxi.=3D 49.1=
=F8
I I =
# April Fools 04-01-97 I - - - I 04-01-97 # Perihelion
Hale-Bopp
# Earth-Sun perpendicular I I # Orbital
Velocity=3D44km.s
to the large axis of Earth I I # Declination =3D
44=F8
# Equat.Conj. Sun,Venus,Saturne I I # D - R =3D
0.44 AU
I I # Angle
Earth-Sun-HB=3D90=F8
I I =
I I 04-20-97 HB at Zenith of
place's
I 3( I discovery
(Eclipse & R=3D1AU repeat 03-09-97)I- 45 -I 04-23-97 R =3D 1 AU
I I =
I **I 05-05-97 HB at its D.N.
I I =
I I 05-14-97 D =3D 2 AU
I / 3 / I =
Armed Forces Day 05-17-97 I I =
-------------------------------------------------------------------------=
------
** Hale-Bopp will have spent exactly 14 months north of the ecliptic, 12
of
which were from the A.N. to the Sun's vertical (03-05-96 to 04-03-97)
followed by 2 months up to its D.N.
Notes, symbols and abbreviations:
(1)- Unless otherwise indicated the data refer to the heliocentric
system
of coordinates.
(2)- The ecliptic is the plan of the Earth's orbit. It is also the plan
of =
reference in the heliocentric system of coordinates.
(3)- In a elliptical orbit, the aphelion is the farthest point from the
Sun,
as opposed to the perihelion which is the closest point to the Sun.
- \ 2 \ : Interval in days between the earlier date to the left and
the =
later date to the right.
- / 2 / : Interval between the earlier date to the right and the
later
date to the left.
- AU : Astronomical Unity with a value of about 150 million Kms;
by definition the half large axis of Earth's orbit equals 1
AU.
- A.N. : Ascending Node.
- D.N. : Descending Node.
- R : Distance Comet-Sun.
- D : Distance Comet-Earth.
- Large Axis : Line and distance perihelion- aphelion; the half large
axis is the average distance between a celestial body
and the Sun (or the attracting body).
- Perigee : The shortest distance Objet-Earth.
- Theta : Angle Sun-Earth-Objet.
- Beta : Angle Sun-Objet-Earth.
- R.A. : Geocentric astrometric Right Ascension.
- Decl. : Geocentric astrometric Declination.
- Anom. : Anomaly or angle Objet-Sun-Perihelion
- Lg : Longitude
-------------------------------------------------------------------------=
------
Admittedly, it is not customary to study a comet in this fashion, as =
opposed to modern, sophisticated techniques that finely analyse the =
total electromagnetic spectrum with which scientists manage step by =
step to study and comprehend the cometary nature. However, in the
face =
of such numerological coincidences a choice must be made: we can of =
course merely cast an amused glance on this and then quickly forget,
or =
else we can choose to explore in depth this enigmatic path.
Like the muse Urania, this gifted comet seems to have complete =
knowledge of the laws of astronomy from an earthly point of view, as =
well as a competence for geometry in space. This is what the
different =
elements cited in the table above reveal, principally refering to
three =
celestial bodies in our solar system: Sun, Earth and Jupiter. Why =
Jupiter?
Must we be reminded that in 1994, another comet (P/Shoemaker-Levy 9
or =
SL9), which was in fact a very strange string of around twenty =
perfectly aligned fragments, came to its violent destruction on the =
giant planet? Could there be a link between these two comets? =
Apparently not. However, has the shadow of this SL9 which
commemorated =
in its own way the twenty-fifth anniversary of man's lunar conquest, =
disappeared forever?
The numerous fragments of SL9 exploded on Jupiter July 16-22, 1994; =
exactly one year later, during the night of July 22-23, 1995,
Hale-Bopp =
appeared above the jovian orbit. Like many comets it carries the name =
of the first two observers, Alan Hale and Thomas Bopp, both
Americans. =
These amateur astronomers made this discovery completely independent
of =
each other, the same night, in two bordering states in the southwest =
U.S. (Arizona and New Mexico) in two places with the same latitude. =
Besides this, the comet Hale-Bopp, in all probability, is
particularly =
fond of U.S. history as it has commemorated the principal national =
holidays, especially the spectacular conjunction the Fourth of July
1996, to celebrate the 220 years of independence. What's more, the =
southwest U.S. was offered an exclusive gift for the anniversary of
the =
1945 Victory of World War II: a lunar occultation. Does that stroll
in =
the company of this nightime celestial body indicate Hale-Bopp's only =
love? To find out, let us glance most discreetly at February 14,
1997. =
Valentine's Day, sandwiched in by Washington's and Lincoln's
birthdays, =
Hale-Bopp strutted about in equatorial conjunction with... Jupiter!
But =
can a comet fall in love?
According to the most serious hypotheses, a cometary nucleus is =
constitued essentialy of an agglomeration of snow and ice, more or
less =
dusty. It is in a certain way a large piece of hail several
kilometers =
or several dozens of kilometers in diameter. Strangely enough, in the =
name Hale-Bopp, we hear "hail bop"--the bopping down of this large =
piece of hail? Let's hope that this "hail bop" is not an April Fool's =
joke in poor taste.
What can we think about the unfolding of the ideas developed here? =
Without a doubt they don't correspond to any logic that would seem =
obvious and reasonable, unless all of this belongs to a logic whose =
origins, goals and understanding escape us.
In memory of Carl Sagan.
March 22, 1997.
***********