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Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!cbosgd!ihnp4!drutx!rjs
From: rjs@drutx.UUCP (Schiffbauer)
Newsgroups: net.space,net.astro
Subject: fake comet
Message-ID: <1510@drutx.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 29-Nov-84 17:47:50 EST
Article-I.D.: drutx.1510
Posted: Thu Nov 29 17:47:50 1984
Date-Received: Fri, 30-Nov-84 07:57:31 EST
Organization: AT&T Information Systems Laboratories, Denver
Lines: 29


I'm writing to start a discussion about the experiment scheduled
for December 25 that will produce an artificial comet above the
Earth.

Recently, I read about this experiment in Science magazine.
This was the first I knew of it and am surprised is isn't more
publicized.

Apparently, on December 25th at about 4:00 a.m. an explosion of
Barium at 70,000 feet above the Earth will produce a comet-like
phenomenon.  Scientists plan to observe the ``comet'' and the
effects that the Earth's electromagnetic field has on it.

I would like to know more
detail about the experiment and am hoping this discussion can
shed some light (np).  If you have any insight about the
significance of the date, I'm interested in that too.

Tell me if I'm off base, but I think this can be an interesting
discussion, and I don't think it has been discussed yet (if so,
just send me mail instead).

Thanks,
rod
drutx!rjs