Dear Editor,
Ison is a three mile wide comet that comes from out beyond the solar systems Oort Cloud. In other words, the cluster of comets and meteors that surround the solar system. About half the distance to the next closest star, around six hundred million miles away. It was officially spotted September, twenty twelve coming from the Constellation Gemini and at its closest approach to the Sun this Thanksgiving, November 28. Northern Canada will be blessed with good viewing, weather permitting. That is if it survives. It is already outgassing with the possibility to see the tail. It can be seen low on the horizon in the North, North, West around the planet Mercury. It can be seen from 10 at night until just before sunrise from November 21, before sun rise being the best time. It should be able to be seen with binoculars. It is a non-periodic Sun Grazer or never before seen and passing close to the sun in a parabolic trajectory. So close as to actually pass through the sun’s atmosphere of magnetic and intense gravity fields. If the radiation and heat destroy the comet we may well get a good show. Comet Shoemaker broke up into twenty one balls when it got caught in Jupiter’s gravity. If that happens, then it will be a good show. However, there is a good possibility the gravity may pull it in where it will melt. Only one other similar comet ever made the journey around the Sun when passing this close and that was Comet LoveJoy. If it survives it’s closest approach on Thanksgiving, then we will have a Christmas Comet. Then we will be able to see it until January. So get tout to town just before sunrise on a high hill looking North. A once in a lifetime event.
W. Krechuniak
