An Interstellar Comet, in Time for the Holidays

Thanks to Dennis Overbye for another article that stokes the sense of wonder. The sky reveals for us another gift of enchanting secrets. Articles like this give some comfort that buffers the tyranny of djt.

The article never explains why astronomers know it comes from outside our solar system, i.e., interstellar space. I think it's because it's moving much faster than comets orbiting our sun. So it must have much more total energy, kinetic plus potential, to sspan such a huge orbit, at least 4 million light years in diameter, the distance to Proxima Centauri, our nearest star, and probably much greater.

None of the comet nuclei visited so far shows any evidence of ice at all and they certainly show no evidence of being made of ice. None. So why are they always described as icy fragments or snowballs? All the pictures and the probe data shows hard, rocky, dusty objects. It's just weird.

All my questions were answered here: https://www.skyandtelescope.com/astronomy-news/will-amateurs-be-able-to-see-the-new-interstellar-comet/. Is it likely we can see it without a strong telescope? (sadly, no.) What are "southern skies" (Southern part of US.) But so much more in this great read!

Comets were giving great powers as the harbingers of doom in the past. The closest approach to Earth, December 7th, a Christmas comet and a visitor from interstellar space, all tantalizing coincidences. People might be tempted to hang all sorts of perfunctory predictions of disaster and resurrection on 2I. For me, the worst part of this comet is, I don't have a view of the southern sky. Come on stars, can't you give me a break next time.

Starry starry night! I wish I may. I wish I might! End the Trump nightmare in America!

"...when it [the universe] begins operations in 2022"?? Has it just been trials and shakedown up to now? Will it finally perform properly?

Southern sky meaning NYC southern sky, or Canberra/Cape Town south of equator southern sky? Or both?

Can someone tell us what counts as "the southern sky"? Are we talking about south of the equator?

When the article says visible in the Southern sky do they mean the Southern part of the sky we see from North America or that part of the sky seen from the Southern Hemisphere?

Borisov just trying to have fun by himself w/o Natashova

Wow! What a kick in the pants that must’ve been for Gennady Borisov. I mean you can kind of see this guy in your head looking and looking and bingo. It turns out to be from really outer space. And I like the representational thing because it’s been a big deal for a long time. Does are part of the universe represent the rest of the Universe? Anyway thanks for the fun read.

Fascinating article.! There are very important events taking place outside this little planet! Please, keep reporting on science! We need that.

Maybe I can go to the Howard B. Owens Science Center and look through their high powered telescopes. The power of the Lord. It might even be Wormwood on its way here. That is, the great star that falls from heaven when an angel sounds the trumpet.

My grandmother was born in 1898. She told the story about Halley's Comet arriving in 1910. She was 12 and her family hid in the attic for 2 days because of fear of contamination. Obviously, my great grandfather wasn't the brightest penny in the bowl.

Will it be visible in the sky with binoculars (or without them) or is more powerful equipment required? Which parts of the country will have visibility?

Thank you for this article; we need to see more like it. Great discoveries on the horizon with the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope in Chile coming on board in a couple years. Let's make sure we have Congressional support for continued exploration and get our young people excited again about science!