[ Sandy/NASAChatHost - 2 - 10:38:45 ]
Welcome to today's Space Scientists Online chat with Astronomer Perry Gerakines! The chat will begin in about 20 minutes. Be sure you've read Perry's bio: http://quest.arc.nasa.gov/sso/team/gerakines.html

[ Sandy/NASAChatHost - 5 - 10:47:07 ]
RE: [Charles-Mr.Williamson/JeffersonElementary] Can we expect to see any comets in the future that will be as visible as what we have seen in the recent past?
Hi Charles! Today's chat doesn't begin until 11 am, Pacific, which is still 15 minutes from now. Wait to send your questions until the chat begins. Thanks :-)

[ Sandy/NASAChatHost - 7 - 11:03:04 ]
RE: [Stephanie/Edmonton] Hello Sandy!
Hi Stephanie! It's good to see your name again! I'm glad you could make it to Pery's chat :-)

[ Sandy/NASAChatHost - 9 - 11:07:09 ]
We're ready to get started with today's chat! Welcome and let your questions fly :-)

[ Perry/Astronomer - 10 - 11:07:56 ]
RE: [Charles-Mr.Williamson/JeffersonElementary] Can we expect to see any comets in the future that will be as visible as what we have seen in the recent past?
Ok here we go then. Hi everyone! Charles.. I don't see why not, but it's really hard to predict when we might see the next one. No one was expecting Hyakutake or Hale-Bopp until at least 1 year before they showed up. It seems we get about one good one per decade, though.

[ Perry/Astronomer - 11 - 11:08:51 ]
RE: [Charles-Mr.Williamson/JeffersonElementary] Can we expect to see any comets in the future that will be as visible as what we have seen in the recent past?
Moreover, we don't expect either of those comets to return for many many thousands of years from now....

[ Perry/Astronomer - 14 - 11:11:19 ]
RE: [Mrs.Wolford/Ed.CenterPrimary] Hi Perry! We are a kindergarten class that is learning about space. Tomorrow we will visit a planetarium. Cory would like to know if you have a favorite star or constellation?
Hmm. Favorite star might be Sirius, the dog star because it's so bright. Favorite constellation is probably the Big Dipper, since I could always see it outside my home as a kid.

[ Perry/Astronomer - 16 - 11:12:08 ]
RE: [Stephanie/Edmonton] Did you get a chance to see the Jupiter/Venus conjunction?
It was too cloudy in the Washington DC area too see anything that evening. I would have loved to, though!

[ Sandy/NASAChatHost - 17 - 11:12:11 ]
RE: [Mrs.Wolford/Ed.CenterPrimary] Hi Perry! We are a kindergarten class that is learning about space. Tomorrow we will visit a planetarium. Cory would like to know if you have a favorite star or constellation?
Welcome Mrs. Wolford and your Kindergarten class! We're thrilled to have you here with your young ones today :-)

[ Perry/Astronomer - 18 - 11:13:09 ]
RE: [Justin-Mr.Williamson/JeffersonElementary] Have you had anything to do with the discovery of any extra solar planets?
No, my research is mainly to find and identify ices found in space. But I have some friends who are looking for extra-solar planets....

[ Perry/Astronomer - 22 - 11:15:37 ]
RE: [Mrs.Wolford/Ed.CenterPrimary] Jennifer would like to know what the temperature on Mercury is like.
Ah, well, since Mercury is so close to the Sun that it would be hot all over. The side facing the Sun is very hot, but since it doesn't have an atmosphere, the side that faces away from the Sun is very cold...

[ Perry/Astronomer - 25 - 11:16:57 ]
RE: [Chris-Mr.Williamson/JeffersonElementary] Have you ever met any astronauts?
Yes I have! Recently John Glenn and the other members of the crew of STS-95 visited NASA/Goddard and I got to speak to one of them..

[ Perry/Astronomer - 26 - 11:17:52 ]
RE: [Stephanie/Edmonton] In a recent "Jeopardy" show, it was mentioned that neutron stars were similar to quark stars; how?
You have to understand a lot of quantum physics for me to explain this one.. Basically, the neutrons break down into their component quarks.

[ Perry/Astronomer - 30 - 11:20:18 ]
RE: [Mrs.Wolford/Ed.CenterPrimary] Will would like to know why blue stars are hotter than other stars.
Well, really, it's the other way around, they are blue BECAUSE they are hotter, but it's the same reason the burner on your stove top starts out red, then orange... It would eventually burn white like a light bulb if it could get hot enough.. Stars are similar in color-- the cooler the redder.

[ Perry/Astronomer - 31 - 11:22:04 ]
RE: [Mary-Ms.Wright/LBJElem] Tony wants to know from Ms. Wright's 5th grade, how big is the biggest meteorite?
The biggest meteorite I know of is probably the size of a beach ball or maybe even a car... They can get pretty big, though.

[ Perry/Astronomer - 34 - 11:23:18 ]
RE: [Betty-Mr.Williamson/JeffersonElementary] What is it like working for NASA?
I've only just started about 4 months ago, but I think it's fun so far. In some ways, it's a lot like working at a University.

[ Perry/Astronomer - 36 - 11:24:31 ]
RE: [Stephanie/Edmonton] Are Triton's and Titan's active core a result of surface fluxing by their giant planets?
I'm not sure what you mean by "active core" or "surface fluxing", but I imagine the magnetic fields of their parent planets keep them pretty warm inside.

[ Perry/Astronomer - 37 - 11:24:49 ]
RE: [Charles-Mr.Williamson/JeffersonElementary] Have you ever witnessed a space shuttle launch?
Unfortunately, only on TV.

[ Perry/Astronomer - 41 - 11:25:36 ]
RE: [Jeffrey-Mr.Williamson/JeffersonElementary] Is Pluto made of ice?
We think Pluto is like a big asteroid with a lot of ice frozen on top of it.

[ Perry/Astronomer - 42 - 11:25:58 ]
RE: [Cody-Ms.Wright/LBJElem] Ms. Wright's class wants to know if any comets will hit earth?
Um, hopefully not!

[ Perry/Astronomer - 43 - 11:26:48 ]
RE: [Stephanie/Edmonton] Where did you learn how to play the clarinet?
I took lessons in school. I started in 5th grade when I was ten. I haven't been practicing as much as I should be lately!

[ Perry/Astronomer - 48 - 11:28:47 ]
RE: [Mrs.Wolford/Ed.CenterPrimary] Dan would like to know why the planets after the asteroid belt are made of gas, but Pluto is not.
Well, we think Pluto and a lot of other things like Pluto were once a lot closer to the Sun than they are now. They were probably "kicked out" of the inner Solar System by Jupiter.

[ Perry/Astronomer - 49 - 11:30:25 ]
RE: [Stephanie/Edmonton] How would you classify comet Wild-2's "age", as in the amount of ice left in it?
I don't know very much about Wild-2, but usually the ages of comets are estimated by how much material has been "cooked" by previous passages near the Sun.

[ Perry/Astronomer - 50 - 11:30:47 ]
RE: [Anthony-Mr.Williamson/JeffersonElementary] Have you been involved in planning missions for NASA?
Not yet, but maybe someday!

[ Perry/Astronomer - 52 - 11:32:17 ]
RE: [Kristina-Mr.Williamson/JeffersonElementary] What was hardest about studying for your Ph.D?
All those Physics courses... I enjoyed learning the material, but it was a big challenge to study so many topics at once. Once I was over that hurdle, it became really fun!

[ Mrs.Wolford/Ed.CenterPrimary - 53 - 11:32:37 ]
Thanks for you help, Perry! It was exciting to talk to you!

[ Perry/Astronomer - 54 - 11:33:03 ]
RE: [Stephanie/Edmonton] I meant have the 2 planets' gravity flexed Titan or Triton so that they still remain active (like Io) or is it caused by something else?
I don't think it's the gravitational forces heating the moons...

[ Perry/Astronomer - 57 - 11:33:45 ]
RE: [Autumn-AutumnFarleyFlorida] Hi, I am a college student at phcc here in Florida and I am just curious, Was it hard for you to get where you are today?
Well, it was not so easy.. 9.5 years of college!

[ Sandy/NASAChatHost - 58 - 11:34:08 ]
RE: [Mrs.Wolford/Ed.CenterPrimary] Thanks for you help, Perry! It was exciting to talk to you!
Goodbye Mrs. Wolford and Kids! Please come back and chat again!

[ Perry/Astronomer - 61 - 11:35:44 ]
RE: [Leslie-Mr.Williamson/JeffersonElementary] How did you become interested in comets?
I guess comets really were just one of those things related to my research until I got a good look at Hyakutake a few years ago! I've always thought they are really beautiful, though.

[ Perry/Astronomer - 64 - 11:37:07 ]
RE: [Jon-Mr.Williamson/JeffersonElementary] Which is your favorite comet and why?
I think my favorite comet is Comet Halley... Mainly because if I stay healthy enough and am very lucky, I may get to see it again in 2061 (I'll be 90 years old!)

[ Perry/Astronomer - 65 - 11:37:23 ]
RE: [Mrs.Wolford/Ed.CenterPrimary] Thanks for you help, Perry! It was exciting to talk to you!
My pleasure!

[ Perry/Astronomer - 66 - 11:38:35 ]
RE: [Shelby-Mr.Williamson/JeffersonElementary] What was the name of the comet that crashed into Jupiter and why did that happen?
The comet that hit Jupiter was called Schumaker-Levy 9 (named for the people who discovered it). It hit Jupiter because it flew too close to it to get away.

[ Perry/Astronomer - 68 - 11:40:01 ]
RE: [Marquis-Ms.Wright/LBJElem] Ms.Wright's class--wants to know how you think the solar system was made?
I think that the Solar System formed from a big cloud of gas and dust which collapsed in on itself due to gravity.. Most of the stuff went into making the Sun, but what was left over stuck together into big spheres we now call the planets.

[ Perry/Astronomer - 72 - 11:41:35 ]
RE: [Daniel-Ms.Wright/LBJElem] Ms. Wright's class--what is the biggest piece of ice you know of in space?
Hmm.. Probably Halley's comet.. Ice in space is usually just in very thin layers on top of other things, but comets might have a lot more ice than most things (even though they might be asteroids underneath it all).

[ Perry/Astronomer - 73 - 11:42:13 ]
RE: [Autumn-AutumnFarleyFlorida] wow what kept you going through all those nights of studying and finals?
Doritos and cherry coke, mostly! ;^)

[ Perry/Astronomer - 74 - 11:43:14 ]
RE: [Vincent-Ms.Wright/LBJElem] Ms. Wright's last question--What is a black hole? And thanks for your time.
My time is yours.. As for black holes, they are places where so much matter has gathered together, even light can't get out fast enough.

[ Perry/Astronomer - 75 - 11:44:31 ]
RE: [Virginia-Mr.Williamson/JeffersonElementary] What do you like most about being an astronomer?
I like going to and studying distant places in the galaxy, if only in my mind... I also like the appreciation I've gained of the night sky by studying some of those places.

[ Perry/Astronomer - 77 - 11:45:37 ]
RE: [Mike-Mr.Williamson/JeffersonElementary] Once our sun turns into a red giant, do you believe we will have explored other solar systems?
Ah, well, that won't be for another 5 billion years or so! That's more time than the Earth has even been around so far... Who knows what will happen by then?

[ Perry/Astronomer - 79 - 11:47:04 ]
RE: [Kendrah-Mr.Williamson/JeffersonElementary] If you could travel to another planet, which would it be?
Another planet? Well, it would have to be a small one, so I could get out and walk on it. Maybe Mars...

[ Perry/Astronomer - 80 - 11:48:35 ]
RE: [Stephanie/Edmonton] Comets are now being said that the water tail is now actually a CO2 tail. Does that mean the theory that comets consist mostly of water ice is actually CO2 ice, or not?
Well, I the separation is due to the Solar Wind. Charged particles are affected differently than uncharged particles. As far as the composition of the tails go, I think they are mostly water... Haven't heard anything about "CO2 tails".

[ Perry/Astronomer - 81 - 11:48:52 ]
RE: [Shelby-Mr.Williamson/JeffersonElementary] How long do you believe it will be before we colonize Mars?
very long indeed.

[ Perry/Astronomer - 83 - 11:50:40 ]
RE: [Betty-Mr.Williamson/JeffersonElementary] In your bio you said you enjoyed sci-fi. What is your favorite sci-fi movie?
That's a tough one. I think one of my all-time favorites is 2001: A Space Odyssey.. Full of mystery and exploration.

[ Sandy/NASAChatHost - 84 - 11:51:01 ]
EVERYONE: THERE ARE 10 MINUTES LEFT IN TODAY'S CHAT... :-(

[ Sandy/NASAChatHost - 87 - 11:52:29 ]
EVERYONE: Please let us on the Quest project know how we're doing we're our Web chats. Fill out the short survey at: http://quest.arc.nasa.gov/qchats/qchat-surveys Thanks :-)

[ Perry/Astronomer - 88 - 11:52:48 ]
RE: [Karen-Mr.Williamson/JeffersonElementary] What is the strangest abject you have ever seen through a telescope?
Strangest? The best thing I've ever seen is the Orion Nebula. It's one of those really bright clouds of gas and dust and it's right in the middle of Orion's belt.

[ Sandy/NASAChatHost - 90 - 11:53:29 ]
RE: [Jared-Mr.Williamson/JeffersonElementary] Last question from Mr. Williamson's 4th/5th grade. What is NASA doing to find out more about possible ice deposits on the moon?
Mr. Williamson and 4th/5th grade: Thank you very much for joining us today! Hope you can come back and chat with us again soon!

[ Perry/Astronomer - 91 - 11:53:41 ]
RE: [Autumn-AutumnFarleyFlorida] What where your favorite classes when you where growing up?
My favorite classes were Math and Science... I always liked Music too!

[ Perry/Astronomer - 92 - 11:55:21 ]
RE: [Jared-Mr.Williamson/JeffersonElementary] Last question from Mr. Williamson's 4th/5th grade. What is NASA doing to find out more about possible ice deposits on the moon?
I think they're going to send more probes like Lunar Prospector (which found the ice).

[ Perry/Astronomer - 94 - 11:56:04 ]
RE: [Autumn-AutumnFarleyFlorida] just want to let you know I have enjoyed talking with you today and I wish you the best of luck in life :)
Thanks!

[ Perry/Astronomer - 95 - 11:57:04 ]
RE: [bethany-channon] is the venus/jupiter conjunction still visible in houston?
I think Venus and Jupiter will still be pretty close together for a few more days, but the actual conjunction took place on Tuesday (when they were the closest)...

[ Sandy/NASAChatHost - 96 - 11:58:27 ]
OK EVERYONE: I think it's time we let Perry get back to his "other" job! Thanks so much for joining us today. Your questions were really good! Sign up for another chat soon and please fill out our chat survey. Thanks :-)