The Probe 3

Cast a glance to the comet up high
with a name sounding awkward and dry
          (in the stellar marquee
          it's marked 'six-seven-P')
and a motion that's hard to descry.

As the comet continues to fly,
caught in gravity none can defy
         (yes, it traces ellipses
         through solar eclipses),
we ask 'does dark matter comply'.

So, we sent the Rosetta to pry
and I can't help but wondering why
          (once in orbit) we spun it
          so close to the sun, it
is likely to sizzle and fry…

But before, we may soon verify
that the comet's a custard cream pie
          made of  green cheddar cheese,
          like the moon, if you please
(though that's gospel the savants deny).

When receivers no longer reply 
(at the end of their solar supply),
          we won't seek to debug 'em,
          instead we'll we unplug 'em
and turn off our spy in the sky.

If it's certain Rosetta will die
then, oh lordy, I surely will cry
          if we land it like Philae
          behind the sun, shyly,  
before I can whisper goodbye.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2015


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Date: 2/29/2016 3:39:00 PM
Love it: "But before, we may soon verify that the comet's a custard cream pie" Lucky comet 67P acquires admiring poet to enhance its legacy....
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Date: 9/6/2015 3:28:00 PM
I like how you brought up dark matter in this smart set of limericks..poor Rosetta! I love your nonsensical smartness! Always, Laura
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Date: 6/25/2015 9:05:00 PM
An interesting sequence of limericks, Terry! I am neither scientifically nor space minded but I like these. Well done! Love, Kim
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O'Leary Avatar
Terry O'Leary
Date: 6/28/2015 4:06:00 PM
Well, thank you very much, Kim... Actually, it's sort of a mixture of science, science fiction and a dash of nonsense... We have recently landed a probe (Philae) on the comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. The rocket that brought Philae close to 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko was called Rosetta... Rosetta itself may land soon on 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko... These 'things' are providing us lotsa info about our solar system... I don't think they found any cheese or custard pie there, but I needed a bit of nonsense for the rhyme... Thanks again for your comment xxx, Terry
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