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One of them could be heading our way now.
Comet Pan-STARRS was discovered by the Panoramic Survey Telescope & Rapid Response System atop the Haleakala volcano in Hawaii. Astronomers use the massive 1.8 meter telescope to scan the heavens for Earth-approaching objects, both asteroids and comets, that might pose a danger to our planet. In June 2011 a comet appeared, and it was named "Pan-STARRS" after the acronym for the telescope.
In early March, the comet will pass about 100 million miles from Earth as it briefly dips inside the orbit of Mercury. Most experts expect it to become a naked-eye object about as bright as the stars of the Big Dipper.
"But" says Karl Battams of the Naval Research Lab, "prepare to be surprised. A new comet from the Oort Cloud is always an unknown quantity equally capable of spectacular displays or dismal failures."
The Oort cloud is named after the 20th-century Dutch astronomer Jan Oort, who argued that such a cloud must exist to account for all the "fresh" comets that fall through the inner solar system. Unaltered by warmth and sunlight, the distant comets of the Oort cloud are like time capsules, harboring frozen gases and primitive, dusty material drawn from the original solar nebula 4.5 billion years ago. When these comets occasionally fall toward the sun, they bring their virgin ices with them.
Because this is Comet Pan-STARRS first visit, it has never been tested by the fierce heat and gravitational pull of the sun. "Almost anything could happen," says Battams. On one hand, the comet could fall apart--a fizzling disappointment. On the other hand, fresh veins of frozen material could open up to spew garish jets of gas and dust into the night sky.
"Because of its small distance from the sun, Pan-STARRS should be very active, producing a lot of dust and therefore a nice dust tail," predicts Matthew Knight of the Lowell Observatory.
"However," he cautions, "it could still be difficult to see. From our point of view on Earth, the comet will be very close to the sun. This means that it is only observable in twilight when the sky is not fully dark."
The best dates to look may be March 12th and 13th when Pan-STARRS emerges in the western sunset sky not far from the crescent Moon. A comet and the Moon, together, framed by twilight-blue is a rare sight. "My guess is that the primary feature visible to the naked eye will be the gaseous coma around the head of the comet," says Knight. "The comet's tail will probably require binoculars or a small telescope."
Two other key dates are March 5th when the comet comes closest to Earth (about 100 million miles away) and March 10th, when the comet comes closest to the sun. The dose of solar heating it receives just inside the orbit of Mercury could be just what the comet needs to push it into the realm of naked-eye visibility.
Comet Pan-STARRS should not be confused with another, even better comet coming later this year. In Nov. 2013, Comet ISON could shine as brightly as a full Moon in broad daylight when it passes through the atmosphere of the sun: video.
"Two bright comets in one year is a rare treat," says Battams. "This could be good."
Author: Dr. Tony Phillips |Production editor: Dr. Tony Phillips | Credit: Science@NASA
Recently, we heard from approximately 40 listeners, primarily in the Greater Edmonton area, about the outage of our AM transmission signal. The situation is now resolved, but we're facing a much bigger challenge related to our AM service.
The AM site requires an estimated $1M in upgrades to make it compliant with Industry Canada Safety Codes. CKUA has been given a deadline of 2014 to complete that work.
The costs to run the AM Transmitter make it the most expensive in the CKUA network. The land for the AM site is leased on a year to year basis and should the landowner decide to sell it, CKUA would need to relocate the AM site. Relocating is not a simple process, as AM sites require large tracts of a very specific type of land and have a complex underground antenna structure in addition to the actual towers. The cost to purchase the land, should it be available for sale, is in the millions of dollars. The total investment needed to rebuild the AM site on secured land could run up to $5 million dollars. CKUA will be filing an application with the CRTC to relinquish use of the AM frequency because we cannot afford to make the investment necessary to operate it.
Practically speaking, the AM Transmitter is largely redundant. It is a repeater for CKUA's FM broadcast signal and our FM network provides coverage to virtually all the areas that the AM currently reaches.
CKUA does not have $5 million dollars to invest in the AM service. Even if we had the necessary funds available, it's not the best investment relative to the other uses for the money, such as funding new programs or making necessary upgrades to our FM infrastructure, much of which also need repair.
We would like to work directly with anyone affected by the loss of the AM service to find solutions to ensure continued access to CKUA. You can reach us through our online listener feedback form or you can email us at am@ckua.com
We are confident that given the coverage of our FM network, we can find solutions for almost everyone who may be affected. Many people who contacted us recently were not aware of our FM coverage in Edmonton. We will be personally reaching out to and working with everyone who left us their contact information but we also urge anyone else who listens exclusively on AM to please get in touch with us at am@ckua.com
FAQs
Why hasn't work been done on the AM site to keep it upgraded?
The CKUA AM towers and transmitters were established on their current site in 1960. The shelf life of a transmitter is 15 to 20 years and 40 to 50 years for the towers. The AM transmitter itself is has been upgraded but the towers are past their shelf life. They have survived this long because CKUA engineering staff have kept things in good working order but at some point, as with any infrastructure like this, a full replacement needs to take place.
What specifically is not in compliance with Industry Canada Safety Codes?
The specific violation is "the use of open line transmission cables feeding power distribution to the three towers is exposed and poses contact safety concerns." While this may sound like a trivial issue, it pretty much requires a total re-build of the AM site in order to address it. There were several other Safety Code citations also noted in the report which CKUA has been able to address.
How much does it cost to run the AM site on an annual basis?
The AM service costs approximately $50,000/year to run and the bulk of that is the cost to lease the land. It is the most expensive transmitter in the network. The issue is not so much related to operating costs as it is to the estimated $5M in capital required to secure the land and make the necessary repairs.
Why didn't CKUA purchase the land to the AM before the price skyrocketed?
The AM site was established at its current location in 1960 and at that point, the parcel of land was not for sale. The land was available for purchase in 2006 at the height of the real estate market and it commanded a multi-million dollar price tag. CKUA did not have funds at that point to purchase the land. CKUA is on a year to year lease and the current owner is expected to sell the land at some point, however, given land values in the area where the site is located, it will cost millions of dollars to purchase.
Why can't CKUA move the AM site?
Relocating is not a simple process. AM sites require large tracts of a very specific type of land and have a complex underground antenna structure in addition to the actual towers. CKUA would face similar challenges from a financial perspective as we'd need the capital available to purchase a new tract of land.
Why can't CKUA rent space on someone else's AM towers?
Unlike FM radio, AM signals cannot easily be combined. In most cases, they require their own separate towers and underground antenna structure. While it is possible to combine two frequencies into one antenna array there are many technical considerations that must be met and it is a very expensive process provided it is even feasible for the frequencies in question.
When will the service be discontinued?
CKUA will be filing an application with the CRTC in February to relinquish the service. Following that application, CKUA will be notified by the CRTC as to how long we have to fully discontinue service. We're anticipating that will be 90 days.
Which areas will be impacted by the loss of the AM?
Based on our assessment of coverage maps, we anticipate the following communities primarily in the North Eastern part of the province to be impacted:
Wainwright
Cold Lake
Bonnyville
Lac La Biche
St. Paul
Provost
Vermillion
We are connecting with all donors in these areas and will be running on-air ads to connect with any listeners in the area to see what solutions are available to serve these communities.
This posting compliments of Ya'Gotta Event Promotion. Follow us on Twitter @yagottabob
Searchlight is a national contest from CBC Music and CBC Radio One looking for the best new musical artist in Canada.
Searchlight: Radio Active is the regional round of the competition, and it aims to discover the best local talent in Edmonton and northern Alberta. Tune in to Radio Active on CBC Radio One or check back here for the latest contest updates. If you're a musician, you have until February 14th to enter at cbcmusic.ca/searchlight.
About the show:
From 3 until 6 pm every weekday, Radio Active brings you an eye opening entertaining slice of Edmonton life. We'll update you on the latest news of the day. We'll take you to what's going on right now and what's happening tonight. We'll get you ready for your evenings and weekends and let you know what you should know about your community.
Join us on CBC Radio One - 740 AM, 93.9 FM in Edmonton!
About the host:
Portia Clark joins Radio Active for the next few months. Portia started her career at CBC Radio in Halifax, and has been working in Edmonton for 12 years. Most recently she co-hosted CBC News Edmonton on CBC TV.
With a diploma in broadcast journalism from BCIT, and a degree in philosophy from Dalhousie University, Portia has established a track record as a strong journalist. She's covered some of Alberta's biggest stories, and anchoring the last three provincial elections. She's also involved in many community events and causes.
Portia enjoys spending time with her husband and two children, as well as running, reading and cooking.
