What's
more, this particular pass of the comet was an especially close one.
The comet came within 14 million miles (21 million km) of Earth at one
point during its May approach, and Earth briefly passed through the tail
of the comet. This, of course, was amazing for scientists, allowing
them to study many details of the comet ‘up close' as it were. The close
pass was reportedly spectacular in the sky, the comet easily visible.
The
downside of this close pass and the new observations made was that a
panic briefly overtook much of the world's population. Scientists had
noticed a poisonous gas known as cyanogen that was present in the
composition of the tail, and while they assured the public that the gas
would be much too diffuse to have any effect during Earth's pass through
the tail, many people still panicked and assumed the worst. In
addition, the comet was connected to several events that it could not
possibly have caused, such as the death of King Edward VII in England
and the death of Mark Twain. This brief hysteria faded when the Earth
passed through the comet's tail without problems, but many people were
coerced into buying expensive comet protections or otherwise suffered
from the panic.
I think ISON is significant and a strong sign as it appears
brightest on Hanukkah, but I am more reserved about forecasting any kind
of destruction associated with it.
YBIC
Bruce Baber