Simviation Forum - Haley's Comet and other celestial occurances

Aug 28^th, 2003 at 4:39am

Travis Offline
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Since Mars is in the night sky, and bright as hell, it got me to wondering, did M$ include such things as Halley's Comet and other such stuff in FS?

And if M$ did not include Halley's, is it possible to accomplish that?

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Reply #1 - Aug 28^th, 2003 at 6:15am

Ivan Offline
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i don't know about halleys comet, but there is a 9000 stars addon which is freely available at the Boeing Clipper site and no-nodes

Russian planes: IL-76 (all standard length ones), Tu-154 and Il-62, Tu-134 and An-24RV&&&&AI flightplans and repaints can be found here

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Reply #2 - Aug 28^th, 2003 at 11:36am

ozzy72 Offline
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I can't say I've come across Haleys, but there are always the Southern and Northern Lights for a bit of nice nightime scenery.
Do a search for Easter Eggs and I'm sure you'll find a comprehensive list.

Ozzy Wink

There are two types of aeroplane, Spitfires and everything else that wishes it was a Spitfire!

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Reply #3 - Aug 28^th, 2003 at 4:46pm

Travis Offline
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Okay, I have found all that, and thank you! But no Halley's in the Easter Eggs or in the 9000 stars. I think I'm going to make it myself . . .

Does anyone know where I can find the exact dates and times and all of that when Halley's is supposed to be seen? I remember '86, and it is supposed to come again in 2062, but I can't find what time of year or where in the sky or precise times. Any help is great!!

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Reply #4 - Aug 28^th, 2003 at 4:55pm

zcottovision Offline
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It's not possible to calculate the exact date in 2061 when Halley's Comet will come back.....keep your eyes peeled. Tongue

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Reply #5 - Aug 28^th, 2003 at 4:59pm

Travis Offline
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Why is it not possible to calculate the exact date? Its just celestial mechanics, which have been worked out to the nth degree for all the planets, moons and other celestial bodies . . .

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Reply #6 - Aug 28^th, 2003 at 5:02pm

Craig. Offline
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there are various reason why an exact prediction isnt possible, they usually can get it within a few days and as the time gets closer they obviously can get a precise date. i believe haleys comet doest work on a perfect orbit which is one reason why, might have read wrong though

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Reply #7 - Aug 28^th, 2003 at 5:37pm

Travis Offline
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Nothings easy, is it? Roll Eyes

Oh, well. Does anyone know where I could find the exact dates, times and places of the appearance of Halley's in the past?

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Reply #8 - Aug 28^th, 2003 at 5:44pm

Craig. Offline
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http://seds.lpl.arizona.edu/nineplanets/nineplanets/halley.html
thats got a good description of why it cant be predicted accuratly and the years its beens een i am looking for exact dates of sightings

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Reply #9 - Aug 28^th, 2003 at 5:54pm

Travis Offline
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Just to correct myself and prove you fellas right:

Halley's should (in theory) have a predictable orbit, because celestial mechanics is a very exact science.

HOWEVER

Since it offgasses when it is close to the sun, this pushes its orbit out of alignment, and since there have been no detailed surveys of the surface and composition, etc, there is no way for scientists to predict its passage.

And on a side note, I just remembered reading about Halley's in a book by Arthur C. Clarke. In 2061: Odyssey Three, the second sequel to 2001: A Space Odyssey, a group of scientists lands on the comet. Really interesting sci-fi.

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Reply #10 - Aug 28^th, 2003 at 7:46pm

Merlin66 Offline
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As an amateur astronomer with almost 40 years experience I can say that within the accuracy of the MS model I can provide an ephemeris for the comet and anticipated brightness, I can't give you an accurate prediction of what it will look like due to some of the factors already mentioned.

Don't have my SKY program immediately to hand but will check it out over the weekend.
If you give me your email, I'll send copies.
Ken
derrinal@bigpond.com

Merlin66&&

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Reply #11 - Aug 28^th, 2003 at 8:09pm

Travis Offline
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Great! I would love to have anything you can provide on this subject. I can use that, with a little practice, to place an effect object in the night sky using a *.bgl placer.

BTW, what is "ephemeris"? ???

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Reply #12 - Aug 29^th, 2003 at 7:04am

Polynomial Offline
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prolly all available in third party addons.

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Reply #13 - Aug 31^st, 2003 at 8:13pm

Woodlouse2002 Offline
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Remember that it appeared in 1066 folks! Something happened that year... Um... Er... Oh well. Grin

Woodlouse2002 PITA and BAR!!!!!!!!&&&&Our Sovereign Lord the King chargeth and commandeth all persons, being assembled, immediately to disperse themselves, and peaceably to depart to their habitations, or to their lawful business, upon the pains contained in the Act made in the first year of King George the First for preventing tumults and riotous assemblies. God Save the King.&&&&Viva la revolution!

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Reply #14 - Sep 5^th, 2003 at 12:16am

Merlin66 Offline
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Ephemeris is just the Astronomy lingo for a set of sky positions over time for a moving object. We use Long/ Lat coordinates on Earth and RA/ Dec coordinates in the sky. Hence an Ephemeris would give RA ( Right Ascension) and Dec ( Declination) for an object, say every 24hrs. That allows you to plot it on a Star map and hopefully find it in the night sky.
Ken

Merlin66&&

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