Another comment on the comet

May 11, 2006

Last weekend, in a historic astronomical event, fragment C of comet Schwassmann–Wachmann 3 passed by the famous Ring Nebula (M57). (AiG has been covering the comet’s breakup and its relevance to the creation/evolution debate—see The tale of a comet.)

As you will see in time-lapse photography taken by AiG astrophysicist Dr. Jason Lisle, this fragment of the comet is seen streaking in front of the Ring Nebula. (The Ring Nebula is a cloud of glowing hydrogen gas that is expelled from a star. The star has collapsed into a “white dwarf,” which is faintly visible in the center of the Ring.)

Comet Schwassmann–Wachmann 3 has been making the news recently because it has fragmented into multiple pieces, two of which are currently visible using a small telescope. The fragment in this image is the brightest one. Such fragmentation events underscore the short lifespan of comets—consistent with the recent origin of the solar system.

Click image to enlarge.

This image was taken here at the AiG ministry in Northern Kentucky (and not far from the planetarium under construction at this site). Dr. Lisle used AiG’s Meade Deep Sky Imager Pro II, viewing through our 12-inch Schmidt–Cassegrain telescope (Meade LX200 GPS). The first frame was taken by Dr. Lisle around 11:00 pm last Sunday. He took several other images over the next hour, which we have compiled into a time-lapse animation file showing the motion of the comet as it flew by the Ring Nebula. We think it makes for some incredible viewing.

Recommended resources

Taking Back Astronomy ($15.99 retail)  Dr. Jason Lisle debunks the most widely accepted evolutionary ideas about astronomy. Readers are given solid answers to many questions, including the speed of light, the big bang, extra terrestrials, the reliability of the Bible, and more.	Creation Astronomy Dr. Jason Lisle shows viewers that when the evidence of nature is understood properly, it lines up perfectly with the clear teachings of Scripture.	Distant Starlight How does light from the most distant galaxies reach Earth within the biblical timescale? In this DVD, astrophysicist Dr. Jason Lisle shows that distant starlight in a young universe is not a problem for God.	What Does the Bible Say about Astronomy? What’s the real age of the universe? Does the Bible teach the earth is round? What does the Bible say about the big bang? Simple, understandable answers from an astrophysicist!
Astronomy and the Bible An analysis of the scientific evidence for the age of the solar system, a biblical and scientific analysis of the origin of stars, and a closer look at the evidence being used to support the big bang.	Universe by Design Written for the upper-level student through the well-read layman, this book explores the universe, explaining its origins and discussing the historical development of cosmology from a creationist viewpoint.

Help keep these daily articles coming. Find out how to support AiG.