Comet Enke – A Threat To Earth?
History of Short Period Comet and Chance it Will Strike Earth Again
Is Comet Enke and the Taurid Meteor Shower that caused the Tunguska Event in 1908 on an inevitable second collision course with Earth?
Comet Enke began life in the deep ressesses of space, in the Oort Cloud. However this comet now resides a little closer to Earth, perhaps a little too close.
Although largely unknown, Comet Enke orbits the Sun quicker than any other comet in our solar system. What does this mean for Earth?
History of Comet Enke
After the birth of our solar system a large chunk of rock and ice lurked along with countless others in the Oort Cloud. This particular comet was disturbed, perhaps by the pull of Neptune and was sent flying towards the Sun. On its journey it was pulled into a far smaller orbit by the gravitational forces of the planets, so that it became destined to spend the rest of its life in the inner solar system, never again to venture beyond the orbit of Jupiter.
During the Bronze Age on Earth, something was to force Enke to fragment, so that the main body is now followed through space by billions of pebble-sized rocks.
Tunguska Event
We have in recent history experienced the outcome of this fragmentation. In June 1908 a rock, believed to be a part of the comet exploded above Tunguska, in Siberia. It devastated 2,000km² of forest. Fortunately the explosion took place over a sparsely populated area ….. this time.
Taurid Meteor Showers
It was Johann Franz Enke, who realised in 1819 that the comet he had been observing made repeat appearances every three years and four months. Hence it was named after him. Once this conclusion had been drawn, its orbit could be tracked. It soon became apparent that its journey around the Sun crossed Earth’s path. As a result of this our planet gets showered by debris from the comet, known as the Taurid Meteor Showers twice a year. It is one of these larger rocks that is thought to be responsible for the explosion over Tunguska. Many experts believe that there is a threat posed to Earth, as the shower contains many large rocks, possibly including dormant comets that are larger than Enke itself.
Although Comet Enke has been fragmented for a relatively short time in astronomical terms, we would still be unlucky to encounter a deathly blow in our lifetime. Instead we should enjoy the wonders that such a regular visitor to the Sun brings with it.
References
Dauber, Philip M and Muller, Richard A. The Three Big Bangs, Massachusetts, Perseus Books, 1996.
Hancock, Graham. The Mars Mystery, London, Penguin Books, 1998.
Standage, Tom. The Neptune File, London, Penguin Books, 2000.
