ONCE IN A LIFETIME CHANCE....

Comet Mcnaught by Robo; taken January 2007 Red Hill, Papakura, NZ; https://www.flickr.com/photos/crooked684/ http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Astronomers are telling us that a unique, never-to-be-repeated celestial event can best be viewed in the Northern Hemisphere night sky this month. The Comet Catalina will be at it’s closest point to the earth on January 12,  passing near the Big Dipper (part of Ursa Major constellation) on January 17.  “Once she hits this closest point,” The Science Explorer website reports, “ she will continue to move further and further away from Earth — leaving us forever.”   On January 1 the comet passed very close to the star Arcturus, one of the brightest in the sky. Even though this event has passed, knowing the location of this famous star may be of help in locating the comet later in January.
 
According to the article, this is the only time Catalina will pass through the inner Solar System.  She is coming from “very deep space, out of the Oort cloud, which is located very far past the orbit of Neptune. Something disrupted the comet’s orbit, “possibly a passing star, which gave it enough energy to achieve the escape velocity of the Sun — meaning it is on its way out the solar system forever.”
 
Whether or not the night sky is clear enough for you to see this astronomical event, why not consider it a SIGN that your life course can be DISRUPTED NOW, giving you the energy to ESCAPE the habits of an INACTIVE life!
 
Find a running or walking plan to train for a HALF MARATHON…it will enable you to run 5K, then 10K distances in training as well as races. At any point you can stop, but ONCE YOU ARE ON this course, you may find you want to FOLLOW it to COMPLETION!
 
For more inspiration and viewing help, see another article in sky and telescope.com. For more information about the star Arcturus which “has also appeared in many other science fiction series, including Isaac Asimov's "Foundation" series, "Doctor Who," "Star Trek" and the movie "Aliens"  and the book,  "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy”, go to the Space.com article (http://www.space.com/22842-arcturus.html).

RUN HAPPY!

http://www.skyandtelescope.com/observing/comet-catalina-sails-into-northern-skies111120151111/
http://thescienceexplorer.com/universe/don-t-miss-your-once-lifetime-chance-see-comet-catalina http://www.space.com/22842-arcturus.html