Jeanway 0 Posted April 18, 2004 (edited) I've heard that term many times. Obviously none of us have seen this, so what does it mean, metapohrically, Sorry, Weareborg for the big word Edited April 18, 2004 by Jeanway Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
edmcgon 0 Posted April 18, 2004 I've heard that term many times. Obviously none of us have seen this, so what does it mean, metapohricly, Sorry, Weareborg for the big word Spelling police: metaphorically. :busted: (sorry Jeanway, I could not resist) On a literal level: Occasionally, space objects do collide, including planets. I have heard theories that our moon was formed from a collision between the Earth and another planet during the formation of our solar system. On a "metaphoric" level: I am not familiar with this phrase being used other than on a literal level. However, I suspect the meaning would be something catastrophic. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jeanway 0 Posted April 18, 2004 I've heard that term many times. Obviously none of us have seen this, so what does it mean, metapohricly, Sorry, Weareborg for the big word Spelling police: metaphorically. :busted: (sorry Jeanway, I could not resist) On a literal level: Occasionally, space objects do collide, including planets. I have heard theories that our moon was formed from a collision between the Earth and another planet during the formation of our solar system. On a "metaphoric" level: I am not familiar with this phrase being used other than on a literal level. However, I suspect the meaning would be something catastrophic. It's O.K. Ed, I've trained you well Nice to see your on the job, correction duely noted and dealt with Now there is syntax problem. :blink: :busted: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Theunicornhunter 2 Posted April 18, 2004 I haven't really paid attention to whether I've heard it metaphorically or not but if I did I would think it meant when people of totally different backgrounds - socioeconomic, religious etc are thrown together on an issue. You know how we talk about people living in different worlds. I'm thinking of the movie Witness, where the cop had one objective and the family taking care of him had another. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jeanway 0 Posted April 18, 2004 I haven't really paid attention to whether I've heard it metaphorically or not but if I did I would think it meant when people of totally different backgrounds - socioeconomic, religious etc are thrown together on an issue. You know how we talk about people living in different worlds. I'm thinking of the movie Witness, where the cop had one objective and the family taking care of him had another. HA, HA sounds like what's going on in here. But it's so much fun when ' PLANETS COLLIDE', isin't it, Well, most of the time anyway? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WEAREBORG4102 0 Posted April 18, 2004 When planets collide: DOOM!!!!!! Result is the rest of the undestroyed planet is stripped of some of its atmospere. This results in a low oxygen level. Radiation levels would increase with cosmic rays. And also tectonic activity may be halted to accelerated leading to volcanoes erupting or volcanoes that stop erupting meaning that all the continents will all be eventually eroded away. Also the orbit would become more elliptical and have eratic climates. Also the distance from the sun may change further destroying life. Maybe the rotation of the planet may stop and winds would cease to exist leading to enormous tidal bulges that would cause worldwide flooding without waves. These would form stagnant pools and mosquitoes would breed and spread disease. Ahhh the many ways a planet could die. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jeanway 0 Posted April 19, 2004 GULP YOU SURE ABOUT THIS? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nik 0 Posted April 19, 2004 It actually depends on the types of planets colliding. In a sense, hamanity saw something very similar about 10 years ago when comet Shoemaker-Levy hit Jupiter. It was a nice light show, but Jupiter was really undamaged. In many cases, the laws of celestial mechanics dictate that in a system, while planets MAY collide, they generally don't for a few related reasons. In short, the central star and planets form by matter "coagulating" into clumps. These generally remain separate. That's not to say that they don't, but if you see an "evolved" solar system, any collisions are more likely to occur near the beginning of its lifetime. We have to keep in mind that planets just don't run into each other because we have this big mass in the center of our system called the sun. Consider a smaller system: Saturn. There are moon's right in the middle of Saturn's rings in the plane of the rings, which are in turn made of smaller particles comparable to planets. Why don't these collide all the time and scatter matter into the interplanetary medium? They are locked in an orbit with what the astronomers call "negative" energy (that's just a term - nothing cosmic or special about it). Each position in the ring moves with it's own orbit. The moons in the rings (referred to as "shepherd moons") actually tend to sweep matter out of their orbits without necessary colliding with this matter. Do planets collide? Sure. How often? Maybe..... once per billion years (rough guess). What happens? It depends on the planets. Two "minor planets" (asteroids) would probably shatter. Two planets like earth would probably undergo a transformation like what WEAREBORG described (I'm left wondering how two planets like the earth would come into close proximity). Perhaps the most spectacular would be two gas giants (like Jupiter) colliding. (Again, I'm wondering how they would get close enough at such a late stage in solar system development). Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jeanway 0 Posted April 19, 2004 Ahh, I watched that. Shoemaker-Levy. That WAS something, huh nik? That was actually meteor, or comet with 21 or 22 pieces and when they slammed into what was it Jupiter, one by one, it was quite a show. By the way it was discovered by a WOMAN, You DO know that, 'Mr.Man', don't you Just kidding with ya nik. { sure wish there were some planets in our emoticons} HINT, HINT. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nik 0 Posted April 19, 2004 Ahh, I watched that. Shoemaker-Levy. That WAS something, huh nik? That was actually meteor, or comet with 21 or 22 pieces and when they slammed into what was it Jupiter, one by one, it was quite a show. By the way it was discovered by a WOMAN, You DO know that, 'Mr.Man', don't you Just kidding with ya nik. { sure wish there were some planets in our emoticons} HINT, HINT. Yes I do! If I remember correctly, her name was Carolyn Shoemaker. A fine astronomer! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jeanway 0 Posted April 20, 2004 You own a telescope nik? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nik 0 Posted April 20, 2004 I've owned several over the years, but eventually just started using the one at the university I work at. It's nice. Yourself? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jeanway 0 Posted April 20, 2004 (edited) No, but I may soon. I've visited observatories many times Edited April 20, 2004 by Jeanway Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nik 0 Posted April 20, 2004 If you need any suggestions, I've used several different models over the years, and can tell you what I've liked and disliked about each. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jeanway 0 Posted April 20, 2004 Something you want to send me here is O.K. Maybe everyone would like to see too. I've got a nice roof here and alot of huge windows. When I take a shower the moon shines in, it's so nice. sometimes when I take a shower in the middle of the day I get a rainbow, it's so neat here. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
headborg 1 Posted April 20, 2004 When Stars collide like U and I, the shadow blocks the sun.....Elton John It means....he mad a lot of $$$$. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jeanway 0 Posted April 20, 2004 When Stars collide like U and I, the shadow blocks the sun.....Elton John It means....he mad a lot of $$$$. What? Well, I guess it's O.K. to go off topic once in a while :huh: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites