Stern über Bethlehem

Die Geheimnisse um Kometen als Unheilsbringer oder Stern von Bethlehem erklärt Arnold Hanslmeier in seinem neuen Buch.

Astrophysiker Arnold Hanslmeier beschreibt in einem neuen Buch Kometen als Unheilsbringer und Propheten.

War der Stern von Bethlehem ein heller Komet? Steht uns der Einschlag eines Kometen bevor? Kann man die Bahnen dieser Himmelskörper berechnen? Arnold Hanslmeier, Astrophysiker an der Karl-Franzens-Universität Graz, lüftet in einem neuen Buch für Laien verständlich so manches Geheimnis.

Mit Teleskopen kann man jährlich mindestens zwanzig Kometen beobachten, spektakuläre Erscheinungen gibt es allerdings nur etwa alle zehn Jahre. Die Himmelskörper sind schmutzige Schneebälle, die in Sonnennähe langsam verdampfen. Sie bestehen aus Materie, die sich seit 4,5 Milliarden Jahren nicht mehr veränderte. Kometen könnten auch auf der Erde einschlagen und Massensterben verursachen.

Dagmar Eklaude

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