h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Hi Galaxy Babe!

I'm your Sub-editor for Amazing Comets and their Impact The new version is here A87817783 - please subscribe.

I enjoyed this I remember seeing Hale-Bopp, and another one a bit after that, called something like Yaku-Taki.

I have a few questions:

In the Caesar section "no doubt they called it something other than Caesar's Comet. As it was seen from their nation's capital, 'Comet Chang'an' has a nice ring to it."

Am I right in presuming that you don't know whether the Chinese astronomers called the comet Chang'an?

In the Flaugergues section "At the time it was visible for the longest period of time"

Does that mean that *of all the comets known at that time*, it was the one that was visible for longest?

In the Halley section "There was, however, a comet visible for about 75 days during 466 BC, and its trajectory matched that of Comet Halley."

Why is it that this sighting was not counted as Halley's Comet by the modern astronomers?

When I read the bit about Shoemaker going to the Moon, I thought of James Doohan and was a bit confused

I presume James Doohan isn't counted because he was not specifically sent to a world, is that right?

Thank you

Hello Sasha!

Thanks for subbing my comets Entry, I've subscribed thanks


In the Caesar section "no doubt they called it something other than Caesar's Comet. As it was seen from their nation's capital, 'Comet Chang'an' has a nice ring to it."

Am I right in presuming that you don't know whether the Chinese astronomers called the comet Chang'an?

Indeed you are, what I was trying to emphasise is that I am sure the Chinese people didn't call it Caesar's Comet.


In the Flaugergues section "At the time it was visible for the longest period of time"

Does that mean that *of all the comets known at that time*, it was the one that was visible for longest?

Yes, it was the record-holder for being in the sky the longest period of time.


In the Halley section "There was, however, a comet visible for about 75 days during 466 BC, and its trajectory matched that of Comet Halley."

Why is it that this sighting was not counted as Halley's Comet by the modern astronomers?

I think they are trying to confirm it with other records, this link
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-11255168 was my source but I'm unable to find out if it's been officially accepted yet. It would be difficult to discount 2 [unsighted] orbits, (to jump backwards from 240 BC to 466 BC).


When I read the bit about Shoemaker going to the Moon, I thought of James Doohan and was a bit confused

I presume James Doohan isn't counted because he was not specifically sent to a world, is that right?

That's correct, the family of James 'Scotty' Doohan had some of his ashes launched into space, they were then returned to Earth (there were many others included in this venture called 'The Legacy Flight').



GB

Hi GB - thanks for answering my questions!

I have made some tweaks to your Entry, but I changed quite a bit in the Flaugergues and Halley sections - I hope that's OK, but let me know if you have any other suggestions for how to word things.

Both sections read fine to me thanks Sasha

GB

Thanks GB

I just got myself in a bit of a mess with Halley's Comet again, sorry, so I have another question...

http://history-of-macedonia.com/2010/09/11/an-ancient-greek-sighting-of-halleys-comet/

Original text:

"the legends about it were later recorded by Pliny the Elder, who also documented a brown meteorite the size of a wagon load3 which fell to Earth while the comet was visible in the sky. "

As I read it, there weren't any legends about it, and the fact of the comet's existence was documented incidentally to the fact of the meteorite's existence. Aristotle also mentioned the meteorite and comet much earlier than Pliny but still many years after the event, but didn't give a date like Pliny did.

How about?:

"mention of it was later recorded by Pliny the Elder, who documented a brown meteorite the size of a wagon load3 which fell to Earth while the comet was visible in the sky. "

Thanks - sorry about that.

No need to apologise,

That sounds great, thanks very much Sasha

GB

Thanks GB

I've tweaked Halley's Comet section again, as I wasn't happy with the placing of one of the clauses in my sentence but it is more like your original paragraph again now, so hopefully that's fine!

I'm happy with the Entry now, so if you are, I'll send it on its way

That's great, thanks very much Sasha

GB