This informative post will be posted on Saturday along with my usual writing.  You are invited to participate with the opening question.

Brain Teaser Question

Polar bears are finding their food supply to be more and more scarce.  Yet, they will not eat penguins.  Why not?

(answer found at the end of this post)

Featured Facts

One of the most anticipated events in our Solar System is the arrival of a comet.  It is sometimes referred to as a dirty snowball with a very long tail.

Here are some quick facts about comets: 

• Comets are made up of large chunks of ice, rocks, dust, and gas.
• As a comet passes near the Sun, its nucleus heats up an sends out a gaseous flare.  This creates the distinctive tail that is seen from Earth.
• A comet’s tail can be up to six million miles long.

One of the most famous comets to travel near Earth has been Halley’s Comet.  It is named after English astronomer, Edmund Halley (1656-1742).  Halley correctly predicted the orbit of the comet, and also calculated its schedule for future arrivals.  Halley’s Comet last appeared near Earth in 1986, and it will not return for approximately 75 years (around 2061).  

A much brighter comet than Halley’s is Comet Hale-Bopp.  It is nearly 1,000 times brighter.  It was discovered independently by two American astronomers, Alan Hale (New Mexico) and Thomas Bopp (Arizona).   Comet Hale-Bopp last appeared in 1997, and it is not expected to arrive again for a few thousand years.

Left:  halley’s comet as captured on film in 1910.  right:  comet hale-bopp from 1997.  (courtesy of pinterest)

Answer to Brain Teaser Question

Polar bears live in the Arctic.  Penguins live in the Southern Hemisphere.