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X-rays from Comets X-rays are a distinguishing characteristic that differentiates asteroids & meteors from comets. The comets produced x-rays by annihilation of matter & antimatter. The ROSAT provides x-ray images of Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9, fragment K, which collided with Jupiter on July 1994. Hundreds of comets are currently visible according to the NSSDC Image Catalog. In addition to visual observation, comets can be monitored using x-rays. Scientists have observed x-ray images of the following comets:
During the last century, other comets fragments have collided with the sun and earth. However, this information is classified and not available to the public. In the past, military surveillance satellites have confused comet fragment fireballs with potentially hostile nuclear explosions because the instrumentation detects similar nuclear x-ray radiation. In May 2003, NASA has scheduled to launch the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS-02) and attach it to the International Space Station. The three year mission is to explore the presence of antimatter in the Solar System, Milky Way Galaxy & other galaxies. Scientists will be able to evaluate different types of antimatter elements in comets & antimatter stars. |
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Matter
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Space:
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Dangers
AntiMatter |