The Comet is already communicating with us
J.D. Drake - Astronomer
If you were to hire one of those NASA people who figure out orbits for some of today's spaceprobes - you know, the probes that use planets and their gravity boosts to get the best views of target planets while using the least amount of fuel - and designed a spectacular orbit for a comet, you'd probably come up with an orbit like Hale-Bopp is currently tracking through.
- Some astronomers believe Hale-Bopp could achieve stunning brilliance in the Spring of 1997. Perhaps the brightest comet in hundreds or even thousands of years.
- Astronomers are still mystified over how the comet was visible at all beyond the orbit of Saturn. (it was discoverd on an observatory photo from a 1993 Naval Observatory survey of the sky!) Theoretically, comets this far out are not hot enough to produce the gases that make it visible. Something unknown was either making it hotter than normal or it contained unknown gases.
- Hale-Bopp's orbit is almost precisely inclined 90 degrees to the earth's orbit around the sun.
- The highest elevation Hale-Bopp achieves is exactly 45 degrees!
- This high point in elevation happens as Hale-Bopp crosses the 0 degree mark in the earth's celestrial calendar - that line on the ecliptic marking the beginning of spring.
- This crossing happens as Hale-Bopp is at its predicted brightest (April 1, 1997).
- Hale-Bopp was occulted by the moon in early May, (its nucleus was blocked by the moon). There has never been an instance in recorded astronomical history of this happening.
- Near its brightest, the comet will light the skies in Mongolia during a total solar eclipse - very rare!
- The comet is making its long approach from the constelation Sagitarius. Zecharia Sitchin, author of many books detailing his research into ancient contact with 'astronaut-gods' says the legendary 12th planet will return after a 36 hundred year absence from the region of Sagitarius. Sitchin believes the comet is not the planet but a "harbinger" of its impending return.
- Also near its brightest, the comet will track across the constellation Orion. Some recent books by Graham Hancock and Robert Bauval show the pyramids at Giza may be a 'model' of the three stars in Orion's belt. Some think the incredible minds that built these original pyramids may have engineered other 'time-capsules' to help wake up future generations to the truth of what's really going on - signs in the sky like the comet.
Late Breaking News:
(last update August 21, 1996)
Amazing, when the pictures started getting good this month, they switched to a smaller telescope!!!
The above picture was taken in mid August with a 20 inch scope. Gee, starting to look odd. Some say it resembles a Hopi Indian prophecy. A great flaming cross in the sky. The return of great beings. In any event, when JPL realized the pictures on the Web were getting too clear, they switched to a smaller scope!!! The next day, they posted the picture below taken with a ten inch scope. Yes, as the comet gets closer, they are having to switch to smaller and smaller scopes. At least for the pictures they are willing to let the public see. Notice they also used a fuzzier picture. I'm telling you, I've been following this comet since its discovery and there is something very very strange going on!!!
And why in God's name have we seen no Hubble pictures since October of 1995? That's ridiculously weird. Hey we paid good money for that thing. Yes, NASA, you work for the people - act like it.
There are some people (fringe perhaps, but who's to say?) who claim Hale-Bopp is a spaceship. It certainly is not like any comet ever seen before. I do feel there is a strong possibility there is some other intelligence at work here. Perhaps an artificially created or enhanced comet to say 'hi'. This could be the real reason NASA came out with their past life on Mars announcement. Getting us ready for celestial sky-writing?
This just in - from Japan. A picture from August with a 20 inch scope. God bless the Japanese and their fine optics. Still, we must have some pictures that make this look bad - BUT WHERE ARE THEY??
