It seems we are touching a few raw nerves with NASA and JPL these days. In no way am I discounting or dismissing their statements. I have no doubt they are simply speaking their truth. But then, so am I.

I believe this is how it should have been done all along. I am hopeful our government agencies will continue this open forum. I realize ego's can get involved so easily when passions are high on both sides.

Let us start anew. I make no apologies or reservation in stating "something BIG is about to happen". How could anyone deny the "Records" being broke on a weekly basis. So let us work together. You have made it clear you do not have all the answers. How quick we are to forget that science is SUBJECTIVE. There is not a subject you could bring up that one of your  colleagues (or mine) could not dispute.

Mr. Morris, it is time NASA/JPL get away from the old hierarchy "good ole boy" corporate pyramid. You know, the one that says sludge runs down hill. It is time to turn the pyramid on it's head. I call it the "Inverted Pyramid" It is time to access the wealth of knowledge that flows the lowest of employees. We have seen this working philosophy flourish, becoming a hugh success in our new corporate world.

Mr. Morris, and colleagues, I hold out my hand to be joined by yours in the spirit of a new way with equal respect for each others passions and truth.
 

To: Mitch Battros [mailto:earthcng@earthlink.net]
Sent: Tuesday, June 15, 1999 7:53 AM
From: Charles S. Morris <csm@encke.jpl.nasa.gov> JPL
Subject: Earth Changes TV/Breaking News - Comet Lee, Possible Connection With CME's

 
(Charles Morris wrote)

The Truth About Comet Lee

There have been some wild statements made about Comet Lee [officially known as C/1999H1 (Lee)]. These are simply bogus, false statements by people who must have some agenda other than the truth. Given below is the truth...

o Comet Lee's orbit is not irratic. It is well-known. The comet will not hit the Earth or come any place close to it. The closest it will come to the Earth is about 77 million miles (the Sun is 93 million miles from Earth) at the end of September 1999. An orbital diagram is posted below...see for yourself.

o Comet Lee (or any comet) will not cause coronal mass ejections. And Comet Lee's orbit is not affected by them.

o The comet is not expected to become bright. It is not abnormally bright nor is it brightening at an unusual rate. In fact, it is not expected to become a naked-eye object. It is currently near its peak brightness.

It seems every time we have a modestly bright comet, someone or group or tabloid will claim that the comet is a threat to the Earth, has a spaceship traveling next to it or some other nonsense. They get on the radio and call themselves "scientists." To them, those of us that provide legitimate information on comets are obviously part of some grand conspiracy. If you are one that believes the nonsense that these people promote, that is certainly your right. However, remember their predictions. When they do not come true...and none of them came true with Comet Hale-Bopp...perhaps next time you will not be so willing to believe the psuedo-scientific predictions they make.

Charles S. Morris - JPL
<csm@encke.jpl.nasa.gov>

Comet Observation Home Page
http://encke.jpl.nasa.gov/index.html