March 7, 2014

Image Caption: This artist's concept illustrates the preferred model for explaining ALMA observations of Beta Pictoris. At the outer fringes of the system, the gravitational influence of a hypothetical giant planet (bottom left) captures comets into a dense, massive swarm (right) where frequent collisions occur. Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center/F. Reddy

[ Watch the Video: Colliding Comets Hint At Unseen Exoplanet ]

Brett Smith for redOrbit.com Your Universe Online

NASA scientists have found evidence of a highly-turbulent comet field circling a star 63 light years from Earth. This cosmic shooting gallery has produced a massive ring of carbon monoxide gas and dust that also encircles the star, according to a new report published in the journal Science.

According to the report authors, the comet field is probably the result of either two icy worlds the size of Mars crashing together or frozen debris trapped by a currently-undiscovered planet.

Although toxic to us, carbon monoxide is one of many gases found in comets and other icy bodies, said study author Aki Roberge, an astrophysicist at NASAs Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. In the rough-and-tumble environment around a young star, these objects frequently collide and generate fragments that release dust, icy grains and stored gases.

Detected by the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) in Chile, this cloud of dust envelops Beta Pictoris, a bright star thought to be about 20 million years old. The ALMA images show the huge belt is mostly gathered in a single clump located about 8 billion miles from the star, or virtually three times the gap between the planet Neptune and the sun. The overall quantity of carbon monoxide detected is greater than 200 million billion tons, similar to about one-sixth the mass of Earths oceans, the study team said.

Because ultraviolet starlight splits up carbon monoxide molecules in about a century, the researchers said the ringed cloud may not be what it first seems.

So unless we are observing Beta Pictoris at a very unusual time, then the carbon monoxide we observed must be continuously replenished, said study author Bill Dent, a researcher at the Joint ALMA Office in Santiago, Chile.

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Massive Ring Of Carbon Monoxide Discovered In Turbulent Comet Field

VELMA When Velma-Alma senior Conner Sullivan hit a halfcourt shot at the halftime buzzer to trim Glencoes lead, the Panthers, who had gone 57-1 in the last 58 games had to be thinking oh no, here we go again.

That one loss was handed to them by the Comets in last years area tournament. This year, there would be no repeat, with Glencoe pulling away late to win 83-69 Thursday.

No. 14 Velma-Alma (21-7) put a scare in them anyway, hitting everything in the first half. Senior Jaz Gayanich went 4 of 5 from behind the arc and there wasnt too much going in for the No. 2 Panthers (27-0). They were relying heavily on their offensive rebounds to hold their lead and, with just a 56-50 lead at the end of the third quarter, the game was still up for grabs.

The collapse came quickly to open up the fourth quarter. With 7:28 left, Sullivan picked up his fourth foul. Less than a minute later, there was a scuffle in which a Glencoe player grabbed a rebound and elbowed sophomore Jake McGuire in the face. The Velma-Alma bench went livid, but there was no whistle.

Glencoe pushed the ball up the floor and, with 6:59 left, Alan Beck was called for his fourth foul when he looked like he had tied up a Glencoe attacker. It was a devastating blow, as Beck had been guarding Glencoes best player, Ty Lazenby, all game.

Alan has been our best defender all year, coach Kenny Bare said. That hurt Alan a little bit because he backed off some. When you get four fouls, you know if you foul out again, youre out.

It showed on the court with Lazenby following up a two-point performance in the third quarter with a 12-point fourth. He didnt miss a single shot in the final period after missing nine in the first three quarters.

He knows how to use his body and he had a big game for them, Bare said. He can weave his way through people and is really good at body contortion. We couldnt keep in front of him.

For the Velma-Alma senior class of Gayanich, Beck and Sullivan, it was the third consecutive state tournament appearance. Gayanich was the lone returning starter from last years team, which graduated eight seniors.

Not much was expected out of this years edition. Bare even admitted after the game that some of the players might not have thought this team was capable of achieving a state tournament berth. For Gayanich, being able to go toe to toe with one of Class As best teams in the state quarterfinal was special.

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Comets cant pull out upset

March 7, 2014 - Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL) Missouri Comets INDEPENDENCE, Missouri. (March 4, 2014) - For the Missouri Comets the Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL) Playoffs begin on Sunday at 3:10p.m. CT at the Independence Events Center. This is the fourth straight appearance for the Comets in the league's postseason tournament. Their opponent for the MISL Semi-Final series will once again be the Milwaukee Wave, who the Comets defeated last year to qualify for the MISL Championship.

Including playoffs, the Comets have played the Milwaukee Wave more than any other team in the MISL. The familiarity goes beyond regular season matchups, as these two squads have had to battle each other every year since 2011 for the right to advance past the first round of the playoffs. Falling at home in Game One of the 2013 Semi-Final series, the Comets came back to score game-winning goals in the final 40 seconds of Game Two and the series-deciding Mini-Game and advancing Missouri to their first MISL Championship Series.

The Wave finished the 2013-2014 regular season with a 16-4 record, all four losses coming to the Comets. Missouri finished 14-6 and held the season series between the two teams with a 4-2 record versus Milwaukee.

Forward Leo Gibson leads the MISL's highest scoring offense into the playoffs. The season's scoring and assists champion accumulated 25 assists and 76 points. The Comets have five players among the league's Top 25 scorers and averaged 16.45 points per game.

Milwaukee's success is also fueled by their high-powered offense. They scored an average of 16.20 points per game, led by forward Ian Bennett. However, the Comets defense and MISL Player of the Week, Danny Waltman, have kept the Wave under ten points four times. Twice they were held to only two goals.

Wave Head Coach, Keith Tozer, has more wins than nearly any other indoor soccer coach in history. He matches up against Vlatko Andonovski, who is in his first year as head coach of the Comets, but has many years of indoor soccer experience, both as a player and an assistant coach.

If history holds true, this MISL Semi-Finals between two teams who match up well and are very familiar with each other, will come down to the final minutes to decide a winner. Game One is at the Independence Events Center Sunday, March 9 at 3:10p.m. CT, with Game Two at Milwaukee's U.S. Cellular Arena on Monday, March 10 at 7:00p.m. CT. If the series is tied, a 15 minute 'Mini-Game' will be played immediately following Game Two.

For group tickets and information call 855.4KC.GOAL or email tictets@kcproscoccer.com.

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MISL Playoffs Begin with Classic Rivalry