Lesson 13 Comets
彗星
In recent scientific investigation of comets has increased because of a growing interest in the origin of the sun and planets.
近年来，由于对太阳和行星的起源兴趣浓厚，人们对彗星进行了更广泛的科学调查。
Scientists want to learn how comets come into being.
科学家们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.
他们认为这方面的研究有助于解释太阳系的成因。
The word "comet" comes from Greek and it means a "hairy object".
彗星一词来源于希腊语，意为“长发的物体”。
In history comets have a special place.
彗星在历史上占有特殊的地位。
People believed that they brought news of death, destruction, or military victories.
人们认为彗星预示着死亡毁灭或胜利凯旋。
The tails of comets provide viewers with spectacular sights at night.
彗星的尾巴在夜空中堪称奇观。
Comet tails are millions of kilometers long.
彗尾的长度可达数百万公里。
There is a written record of a comet as early as 1770 B.C.
早在公元前1770年就有关于彗星的文字记载。
The Chinese kept careful records and so did the Babylonians.
中国人和巴比伦人对彗星做了详细的纪录。
Aristotle was interested in comets.
亚里士多德对彗星很感兴趣，
He thought that they began as burning gases in the earth's atmosphere.
他认为彗星最初是地球大气中燃烧的气体。
The most famous comet in history is called Halley's comet.
历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.
他成功预测了他去世后16年，即1758年哈雷彗星的出现。
He predicted the appearance of the comet in 1758, sixteen years after his death.
他成功预测了他去世后16年，即1758年哈雷彗星的出现。
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两条彗尾，最近一次回归是在1986年。
A Second Solar System
第二个太阳系
Scientists have found a second solar system in the universe.
科学家在宇宙中发现了第二个太阳系。
What's the second solar system?
什么是第二个太阳系？
It's just a system like ours-with a star and a number of planets going around it.
就跟我们的太阳系一样，有一个恒星和围着恒星转的几颗行星。
Is this good news or bad news?
这是好事还是坏事？
It's exciting news!
这是激动人心的消息。
If we find a second solar system, we might find a second earth!
如果我们能发现第二个太阳系，兴许就能发现第二个地球。
You mean with people on it?
你是说上面有人住的？
Yes! Isn't that exciting?
对啊。这难道还不让人激动吗？
A Second Solar System
第二个太阳系
Scientists have found a second solar system in the universe.
科学家在宇宙中发现了第二个太阳系。
What's the second solar system?
什么是第二个太阳系？
It's just a system like ours-with a star and a number of planets going around it.
就跟我们的太阳系一样，有一个恒星和围着恒星转的几颗行星。
Is this good news or bad news?
这是好事还是坏事？
It's exciting news!
这是激动人心的消息。
If we find a second solar system, we might find a second earth!
如果我们能发现第二个太阳系，兴许就能发现第二个地球。
You mean with people on it?
你是说上面有人住的？
Yes! Isn't that exciting?
对啊。这难道还不让人激动吗？