The Lulin Comet (鹿林) co-discovered by Taiwan’s National Central University (NCU) will pass close to Earth next week, giving astronomy enthusiasts the chance to see it, the university said yesterday.
At a press conference, NCU professor of astronomy Chen Wen-ping (陳文屏) said the distance between the Earth and the comet would be at its smallest — about 61 million kilometers — next Tuesday.
Stargazers will be able to locate the comet — surrounded by a green halo and traveling at 50km per second — near the constellation of Leo using a conventional telescope, Chen said.
He said the approach of the comet provides a great opportunity for people to increase their knowledge of astronomy and to experience the beauty of the night sky.
“Given that comet Lulin’s orbit takes more than 20 million years to complete ... this is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to see it,” Chen said.
“According to the calculations [of astronomers], the comet may travel in a hyperbolic trajectory, a parabolic curve or a narrow oval-shaped orbit that will take 20 million years to complete. This means that this will be the first and last time the comet will enter the solar system,” Chen said.
The comet was first spotted by Ye Quanzhi (葉泉志), a student at Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou, China and Lin Chi-sheng (林啟生), an assistant at NCU’s Lulin Observatory in Alishan on July 11, 2007.
Chen said researchers at the observatory had discovered some 700 asteroids, but the Lulin Comet was the only comet the researchers had found so far.
“Sometimes astronomy is a bit like archeology,” said former National Central University (NCU) vice president and professor of astronomy and space science Wing-huen Ip (葉永烜).
“Comets like Lulin, which are young and contain a lot of chemicals from the time it was created, provide us with a key to open the mysterious door of how our solar system was formed 4.5 billion years ago,” Wing said.
“The more we learn about the structure and functions of comets, the sooner we will be able to react when we find objects that pose a threat to the Earth,” he said.
The NCU has set up a special Web site (c2007n3.astro.ncu.edu.tw) to mark the approach of the comet, Chen said.
The Web site includes the latest pictures of the comet and astronomers’ predictions of its path, Chen said.
A series of events will also be held around the nation starting on Saturday to help the public gain a better understanding of the comet and to help observers see it, Chen said.
ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY CNA
Palauan President Surangel Whipps Jr arrived in Taiwan last night to kick off his first visit to the country since beginning his second term earlier this year. After arriving at Taoyuan International Airport at around 6:30 pm, Whipps and his delegation were welcomed by Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍). Speaking to gathered media, the Palauan leader said he was excited and honored to be back in Taiwan on his first state visit to Taiwan since he was sworn in this January. Among those traveling with Whipps is Minister of State Gustav N. Aitaro, Public Infrastructure
President William Lai (賴清德) yesterday thanked Palau for its continued support of Taiwan's international participation, as Taipei was once again excluded from the World Health Assembly (WHA) currently taking place in Switzerland. "Palau has never stopped voicing support for Taiwan" in the UN General Assembly, the WHO and other UN-affiliated agencies, Lai said during a bilateral meeting with visiting Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr. "We have been profoundly touched by these endorsements," Lai said, praising the Pacific island nation's firm support as "courageous." Lai's remarks came as Taiwan was excluded for the ninth consecutive year from the WHA, which is being held in
RESOLUTIONS DEBATE: Taiwan’s allies said that UN and WHA resolutions cited by China and other nations ‘do not determine Taiwan’s participation in WHO activities’ A proposal to invite Taiwan to this year’s World Health Assembly (WHA) was rejected on Monday, resulting in Taipei’s absence from the annual meeting for a ninth consecutive year, although partners spoke up for Taiwan’s participation at the first day of the meeting. The first agenda item after the opening was a “two-on-two debate” on a proposal to invite Taiwan to participate at the WHA as an observer. Similar to previous years, two countries made statements in favor of the proposal, while two others expressed their opposition. Philippine Secretary of Health Teodoro Herbosa, president of the 78th WHA, accepted the WHA General Committee’s
At least three people died and more than a dozen were injured yesterday afternoon when a vehicle struck a group of pedestrians in New Taipei City’s Sansia District (三峽). The incident happened at about 4pm when a car rammed into pedestrians at an intersection near Bei Da Elementary School. Witnesses said the sedan, being driven at a high speed, ran a red light, knocking scooters out of the way and hitting students crossing the road before careening into a median near the intersection of Guocheng and Guoguang streets. The incident resulted in three deaths and 13 injuries, including the driver, a 78-year-old man