Dwarf planet 'becoming a comet'

[DoYouEverWonder]

17 January 2007

An unusual dwarf planet discovered in the outer Solar System could be en route to becoming the brightest comet ever known.

2003 EL61 is a large, dense, rugby-ball-shaped hunk of rock with a fast rotation rate.

Professor Mike Brown has calculated that the object could be due a close encounter with the planet Neptune.

If so, Neptune's gravity could catapult it into the inner Solar System as a short-period comet.

"If you came back in two million years, EL61 could well be a comet," said Professor Brown, from the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) in Pasadena.

"When it becomes a comet, it will be the brightest we will ever see."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/6268799.stm

[jollyreaper2112]

1. great

2 million years? I can't even wait to find out what's for lunch.

[Cronus Protagonist]

2. 2 BILLION YEARS??

Oops. Sorry. I thought he said Billion. My bad.

[DakotaDemocrat]

3. I don't think we should worry about this one folks...

Two million years - jeesh...

I have to say, though, I applaud the Professor. You bust your hump for hours on end to explore this mystery. You make your calculations, and presto...two million years something will happen.

And this man is excited.

Just tells me I have: 1) no dedication to my craft, and 2) this universe is pretty fuggin large.

[I_Will]

4. I love your conclusions! n/t

Now *that's* some real-world deductive reasoning!

[Ian David]

5. And in 2 million years, some Republican will say...

"No one could have anticipated EL61 would have become a comet."

[DakotaDemocrat]

6. LOL, or...

"The world isn't that old. And, oh yeah, don't have sex."

[Silvermint]

7. HAHA!

I repeat: HAH!

[kevsand]

10. And still somehow blame it on Clinton... /nt

[w4rma]

12. And time is really long. (nt)

[damntexdem]

8. Ooh, I can hardly wait!

Two million years just seems to pass so slow!

Good science, idiotic commentary on it.

[Auntie Bush]

9. I have a few important questions.

Will I be needing sunglasses? Or should I be prepared to duck? Will I need a desk to duck under or will plastic and duck tape er..I mean duct tape be sufficient? Inquiring minds want to know. :shrug:

[DoYouEverWonder]

11. Just make sure

you have plenty of sun screen. I'd suggest at least SPF 1000.

[Courtesy Flush]

13. A million and a half years from now

It will still be too soon to care.