Lesson 14 Comets
彗星
In recent scientific investigation of comets has increased because of a growing interest in the origin of the sun and planets.
近年來,由于對太陽和行星的起源興趣濃厚,人們對彗星進行了更廣泛的科學調查。
Scientists want to learn how comets come into being.
科學家們想了解彗星是怎么形成的。
They think that such information will help to explain the origin of the solar system.
他們認為這方面的研究有助于解釋太陽系的成因。
The word "comet" comes from Greek and it means a “hairy object”.
彗星一詞來源于希臘語,意為“長發的物體”。
In history comets have a special place.
彗星在歷史上占有特殊的地位。
People believed that they brought news of death, destruction, or military victories.
人們認為彗星預示著死亡毀滅或勝利凱旋。
The tails of comets provide viewers with spectacular sights at night.
彗星的尾巴在夜空中堪稱奇觀。
Comet tails are millions of kilometers long.
彗尾的長度可達數百萬公里。
There is a written record of a comet as early as 1770 B.C.
早在公元前1770年就有關于彗星的文字記載。
The Chinese kept careful records and so did the Babylonians.
中國人和巴比倫人對彗星做了詳細的紀錄。
Aristotle was interested in comets.
亞里士多德對彗星很感興趣,
He thought that they began as burning gases in the earth's atmosphere.
他認為彗星最初是地球大氣中燃燒的氣體。
The most famous comet in history is called Halley's comet.
歷史上最著名的彗星叫作哈雷彗星,
Which appears every 75.5 years. It was named for Edmond Halley, an English scientist.
他成功預測了他去世后16年,即1758年哈雷彗星的出現。
He predicted the appearance of the comet in 1758, sixteen years after his death.
他成功預測了他去世后16年,即1758年哈雷彗星的出現。
Halley’s comet is extremely bright and has two tails. Its latest return was in 1986.
璀璨明亮的哈雷彗星有兩條彗尾,最近一次回歸是在1986年。
A Second Solar System
第二個太陽系
Scientists have found a second solar system in the universe.
科學家在宇宙中發現了第二個太陽系。
What’s the second solar system?
什么是第二個太陽系?
It’s just a system like ours-with a star and a number of planets going around it.
就跟我們的太陽系一樣,有一個恒星和圍著恒星轉的幾顆行星。
Is this good news or bad news?
這是好事還是壞事?
It’s exciting news!
這是激動人心的消息。
If we find a second solar system, we might find a second earth!
如果我們能發現第二個太陽系,興許就能發現第二個地球。
You mean with people on it?
你是說上面有人住的?
Yes! Isn’t that exciting?
對啊。這難道還不讓人激動嗎?
A Second Solar System
第二個太陽系
Scientists have found a second solar system in the universe.
科學家在宇宙中發現了第二個太陽系。
What’s the second solar system?
什么是第二個太陽系?
It’s just a system like ours-with a star and a number of planets going around it.
就跟我們的太陽系一樣,有一個恒星和圍著恒星轉的幾顆行星。
Is this good news or bad news?
這是好事還是壞事?
It’s exciting news!
這是激動人心的消息。
If we find a second solar system, we might find a second earth!
如果我們能發現第二個太陽系,興許就能發現第二個地球。
You mean with people on it?
你是說上面有人住的?
Yes! Isn’t that exciting?
對啊。這難道還不讓人激動嗎?