Get up to speed with facts about the Comet of the Century

Comet ISON is About to Make its Intergalactic Earthly Debut – National Geographic Abu Dhabi Shares What to Know About the “Dirty Snowball” of the Cosmos

‘Comet of the Century' to air on November 28 at 11:00pm KSA/10:00pm UAE

Abu Dhabi, UAE, 26 November 2013: Reaching speeds as high as 684,000 kilometres per hour, Comet ISON has been billed by world-class astronomers as the COMET OF THE CENTURY. But, for those of us who can't tell cosmic cool from meteoric mediocrity, here's a crash course in comets, just how amazing ISON is and why we won't be needing Bruce Willis for planetary protection.

So, grab a front row seat to a once-in-a-lifetime event on 28 November, 2013 at 11:00pm KSA/10:00pm UAE when National Geographic Abu Dhabi introduces COMET OF THE CENTURY. With breath-taking images captured using cutting edge technology, audiences come as close to our new comet as telescopes allow them – and now with a little bit of instruction, we can call ourselves transitional astronomers.
 
COMETS: A CRASH COURSE
 
WEIRD WORLDS
Comets, affectionately known as the “dirty snowballs” of the cosmos, are described as weird, low-gravity worlds of ice, rock and gas composed from the debris of millions of years ago. Tiny dust particles and ice crystals merge together slowly over tens of millions of years until they form large, city-sized chunks like ISON. A cloud of gas and dust – the coma – surrounds a hard nucleus that is typically less than 10 kilometers in diameter. These icy interlopers can reach astronomical sizes as they sizzle through interstellar space. The amorphous tails of comets are bright because their dust reflects sunlight.

HEAVENLY HARBINGERS
Although much of the world will watch in awe as comet ISON sweeps across the night sky, humans have long had a love-hate relationship with these cosmic creations. For centuries, comets were considered a bad omen. Even to this day there are cultures that believe comets bring plagues and wars. From the Romans, Incas, and ancient Mongols through the Middle Ages and even in the modern world, comets were seen as harbingers of doom sent by the gods to warn humans of their wrath. But, some scientists believe that comets may have brought much of the Earth's water to our planet 3.8 billion years ago – enabling life to flourish for billions of years.          

SECRETS OF THE SOLAR SYSTEM     
Comets can give scientists a glimpse into the past of our solar system, a view of the earliest moments of our world's existence. Scientists want to explore the possibility that billions of years ago, comets brought water to the new-born Earth and if ISON holds any organic molecules – the building blocks of our existence. The insurmountable possible answers that ISON may offer are staggering.                            

COMET OF THE CENTURY is produced for National Geographic Channels International by Darlow Smithson Productions. For Darlow Smithson, Iain Riddick is executive producer. For NGCI, Executive Vice President and Head of International Content is Hamish Mykura.
 
‘Comet of the Century' to air on November 28 at 11:00pm KSA/10:00pm UAE

About National Geographic Abu DhabiLaunched in July 2009, the free-to-air National Geographic Abu Dhabi invites viewers in the Middle East to re-think the way they see television - and the world - through smart, innovative programming in the Arabic language. Brought to the region by the Abu Dhabi Media Company (ADMC) and National Geographic Channels International (NGCI), the channel is dedicated to understanding and protecting the world, with its worldwide reputation of producing credible and authentic content that fits different viewers' interests. Its programming is smart, factual entertainment weighted in favour of popular science, technology, natural history, archaeology and natural mysteries. www.natgeotv.ae.