The Index-Journal from Greenwood, South Carolina • Page 23

1 TT THE INDEX-JOURNAL JiQCiaj LlVlll Sunday Campus May ion '132; ifaci Mitei iUh lit VHP 1 i i 17 vm mm v-- aula? '333rapiuirr uZiijijiSEi- -J could oscillate the planet like a giant ringing bell. "The impacts might also create Vortices, storms large enough to see from Earth, and they could help us understand how storms are created from a sudden influx of energy," Chapman tells National Geographic. One of the fiercest storms in the solar system already torments Jupiter. Known as "Great Red Spot," it is a caldron of fierce winds and whirling clouds that has been raging for at least 300 years. This summer's collision also may reveal more about comets.

Surprisingly little is known about these objects that blaze across the sky and can cause so much destruction. At one time these messengers from the outer solar system were viewed as fluffy, dirty snowballs mostly ice and dust. Not so, says planetary scientist Eugene Shoemaker, who with his wife, Carolyn, and an amateur astronomer, David Levy, discovered the Jupiter-bound comet in March 1993. "My own guess is that comets are mostly rocky materials and some organic compounds," says Shoemaker. "Water and other ices probably make up only a third of the total mass." Analysis has shown Shoemaker's namesake was torn into fragments when it passed too close to Jupiter and was split apart by tidal forces generated by the planet's gravity.

Shoemaker thinks such occurrences may be commonplace. "There is this prevailing paradigm that comets are these primitive objects that nothing has ever happened to. I think they came from big objects that got condensed and compacted, and then they've -burst apart by impact and by getting too close to a planet," he said. All the planets in the solar system have been bombarded by comets. According to sgrocexpetu as many as 5 million comets may have hit Earth during its first billion years.

A massive asteroid or a string of comet fragments similar to those racing toward Jupiter may have struck Earth 65 million years ago, causing the extinction of dinosaurs and most other species. By DONALD J. FREDERICK National Geographic For AP Special Features SAN FRANCISCO Chunks of a comet hurtling toward Jupiter should smash into the largest planet in the solar system July 20, setting off spectacular celestial fireworks on the 25th anniversary of man's first walk on the moon. Scientists calculate that 21 pieces one as big as 2.5 miles in diameter of the fragmented comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 should hit the planet from July 16 to July 22. But unlike the Apollo 11 moon landing, the comet's trajectory will plunge it into the side of Jupiter not visible from Earth.

The impacts will be thousands of times more powerful than the largest nuclear explosions that have occurred on Earth. They will set off enormous reddish fireballs and blow Texas-size holes in the Jovian atmosphere. Enormous plumes could rise 620 miles above Jupiter's cloud tops. Scientists are not sure what will happen after the impacts, but the distant, gaseous planet 95 percent hydrogen and helium is so huge that it should easily absorb the blows! Comet-planet collisions are not uncommon. Jupiter is 2'2 times the size of all the other planets combined.

More than 1,300 Earths could be packed inside Jupiter, and 11 Earths could be lined up along its diameter. "Similar fragments raining down on Earth would cause a catastrophe. So much dust would be thrown into the atmosphere that we would lose our crops. Humans as a species would probably survive, but the majority of us would die," says David Morrison of the, NASA Ames Research Center, one of the comet scientists interviewed at the 1994 meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in San Francisco. An armada of spacecraft and hundreds of powerful Earthbound telescopes, collision.

Astronomers will zero' in on some of Jupiter's 16 nearby moons such as Io and Europa, hoping to see the impact flashes reflected from them. The Galileo spacecraft will send back the only images of the actual impacts. Its camera should be able aigj- iui fain ciCMiiaii view within an hour after a fragment hits, estimates Harold A. Weaver, an astronomer at the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore. "We hope to learn more about the composition of the material in, Jupiter's deep atmosphere and the chemical processes going on there," says Clark R.

Chapman, a senior scientist at the Planetary Science Institute in Tucson, Ariz. "The impacts will stir things up and sendLout signals that, will finable us to measure properties that would otherwise be invisible." Some of the energy from the impacts may be transformed into shock waves that will spread to Jupiter's interior, much as seismic waves from an earthquake do inside the Earth. The shock waves to record the explosions as they occur. Speeding on a mission to Jupiter, the spacecraft itself will arrive 17 months after the fragments. The Hubble Space Telescope and an instrument aboard NASA's Kuiper Airborne Observatory, a converted C-141 jet, will provide views from far above the Earth, Five other spacecraft will take various measurements on everything from ultraviolet radiation to, radio waves.

All "planeti send out MMmei' Jupiter emits the strongest Most of them sound like static and loud whistles. Astronomers should be able to analyze quickly the condition of the impact sites. Jupiter's rotation will bring each strike zone into Earth's Couples wed in ceremonies mm G5 nessee, the. couple will live in Ninety Six. Seaborn-Fitch EASLEY Heather Michelle Seaborn of Easley and Stephen llankinson.

Fitch of Greenwood exchanged vows of marriage during a 2 p.m. Saturday ceremony at Rock Springs Baptist Church in Easley with the Rev. David Gallamorc of Easley officiating. A program of wedding music was presented by Mrs Neomia Walker, organist, Larry vOrr, trumpeter, Mr. and Mrs.

Rick Kirby, and Mrs. Shirley Galla-more, vocalists, all of Easley. The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Buddy Jack Seaborn of Easley.

A 1988 gradu- (See Weddings, page 2C) Mrs. Jamie L. Reese Amy Hall Weeks i 'P. m-A 'v. i dice.

Beaded Alencon lace enhanced the' long Renaissance sleeves tapering to a point at the wrist. Matching jewelled lace embellished the fitted bodice and accented the floor-length skirt. A large candy box back bow enhanced the detachable semi-cathedral-length train enhanced with Alencon lace cut outs. Her fingertip-length veil of illusion featured a folded pouf and rolled edge and was caught by a crown of Alencon lace highlighted with pearl and crystal sprays. She carried a cascading bouquet of white roses accented with pearls and varigatcd ivy.

The honor attendant wore a formal gown of black satin featuring a bateau neckline flowing into a low back and shirred puffed sleeves. A satin ruffle accented the waistline. The bridesmaids wore formal, tea-length gowns of black Satin featuring an off-thc-shouldcr neckline. A rhincstonc and teardrop pearl brooch ac-ccnted the white portrait collar. The enhanced with a white portrait collar.

The fitted bodice flowed into a basque waistline. The attendants carried single white magnolia blossoms. The flowcr girl wore a white satin gown enhanced with sequins and lace and featuring a bateau neckline and short puffed sleeves. She carried a white wicker basket from which she dropped rose petals. Byron Stephen Collier was his son's best man.

Ushers were Kenneth Davis of Saluda, Tracy Ward of Ninety Six, and Randy Riser of Waterloo. Jonathan Davis of Saluda was ringbearer. Nona Gunnclls hosted a reception in the church social hall following the ceremony. After a wedding trip to Ten Carver-Fisher ABBEVILLE Frankie Ann Carver and Christopher Shane Fisher, both of Abbeville, were united in marriage during a 5 p.m. Saturday ceremony at Trinity Episcopal Church in Abbeville with the Rev.

Bill Allen of Abbeville officiating. Clairli Thrower and Shawn Price, both of Abbeville, presented a program of wedding music. The bride is the daughter Mr. and Mrs. Ronnie Carver of Abbeville.

She is also the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Marshall Wilson of Greenville. A 1985 graduate of Abbeville High School, she graduated from Piedmont Technical College in 1992. She is assistant manager at Kentucky Fried Chicken in Greenwood.

Mrs. Chris S. Fisher Frankie Ann Carver r1 1,1 1 rv i A The bridegroom is the son of Mrs. Juanita Fisher of Abbeville and the late Marshall Fisher. A 1981 graduate of Abbeville High School, he, is employed with Miiliken Co.

of Abbeville. Tammie Calvert of Greenwood was matron of honor. Bridesmaids were Sheila Story, Kelly Fisher, both of Atlanta, Judy Bannister of Greenwood, Lisa Ruth of Allendale, and Patti Jo Fisher of Sabrina Fisher of Abbeville was a junior bridesmaid. Rower girl was Ally Price of Abbeville. The bride wore a formal gown of white satin featuring a V-neckline and Elizabethan sleeves tapering to a point at the wrist.

Schiffli lace embellished with iridescents and pearls lav-ished the fitted bodice, sleeves and the skirt front A candy box bow, trimmed with pearls, adorned the back waistline. Matching scalloped lace highlighted the hemline of the softly gathered skirt and cathedral-' length train. Her fingertip-length veil of illusion featured a pouf and was caught by a headpiece of satin rosettes with pearl accents. She carried magnolia blossoms enhanced with lace and pearls. The attendants wore tea-length gowns in a cotton floral print of mauve and peach fca-hiring an off-the-shoulder neckline accented with lace trim.

They carried arm bouquets of magnolias with lace and pearl accents. Glenn Fisher of Abbeville was best man. Ushers were David Cann, Wesley Carver, both of Abbeville, Mark Story of Atlanta, Danny Bannister, and Marvin Sudduth, both of Greenwood. Marshall Fisher of Abbeville was a junior usher. Ringbearer was Jacob Story Mrs.

Stephen Fitch Hea ther M. Seaborn Home of Greenwood. A 1989 graduate of Greenwood High School, she is employed with Piedmont Family Medicine P.A. in Ninety Six. The bridegroom is the son of Mr.

and Mrs. Byron Stephen Collier of Ninety Six. A 1985 graduate of Ninety Six High School, he is self-employed, Mrs. Christy Ward of Ninety Six was matron of honor. Bridesmaids were, Mrs.

Teresa Davis of Saluda, Kim-bcrly Home and Tiffany Home, both of Brittany Ward of Ninety Six was flower girl. The bride wore a formal gown of white bridal satin featuring a wedding band collar highlighting a heart-shaped keyhole on the front and back bo Mrs. Byron Collier Jr. Shelly Montine Home of Atlanta. The bride's family hosted a reception at the Heritage House following the ceremony.

After a wedding trip to Key Largo, the couple will live on Strawhorne Road in Abbeville. Horne-Collier NINETY 'SIX Shelly Montine Home of Greenwood and Byron Stephen Collier Jr. of Ninety Six exchanged vows of marriage during a 1 p.m. Saturday ceremony at. Ninety Six Pentecostal Holiness.

Church with the Rev. Ben Edwards of Ninety Six officiating. Dennis McCoy of Greenwood presented a program of wedding music. The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs.

James Dennis.