Hi t.i.w & All,
As others have correctly noted C/2010 X1 Elenin did not *actually* change direction/course at all, but only appeared to change direction from the perspective of Stereo B.
There is a good short movie here:
http://video.godlikeproductions.com/...15341df1da3f72
using some widely available planetarium software (Starry Night Pro in this instance) that shows how Comet Elenin *appears* to change course (from the perspective of the Stereo B satellite) and why this is merely a perspective effect. The fact that a lens flare (due to an internal reflection within the camera optics) from Jupiter contemporaneously appears to sweep past Elenin on the CCD chip at the same time is purely coincidental.
There is no energy discharge or "death ray" from Jupiter involved, it is a trick of the camera -- a lens flare. These flares occur every time a bright object (Venus, Jupiter etc etc) exits or enters the field of view of the camera and are perfectly normal. Incidently, Jupiter is about 750 million km from Comet Elenin at the moment and Earth is almost between them. If it were an "energy jolt" from Jupiter to destroy/divert Comet Elenin, why didn't we feel it here on Earth?
The plethora of Youtube videos about Comet Elenin being smashed by this energy bolt from Jupiter originating in the last few days on Youtube and making a big splash on the UFO/conspiracy/lunatic fringe/jibbering idiot websites are made by misguided fools that have no astronomical knowledge whatsoever and extremely limited capacity to interpret the images they are seeing. It is all supposed to be a big NASA secret conspiracy and that they are hiding the truth from us that the Earth will be seriously harmed by Comet Elenin in the next month or so.
In fact, virtually no NASA resources are expended on watching/monitoring/tracking Comet Elenin -- they have virtually no interest in it at all. Most of the work in tracking the brightness, behaviour, movement of Comet Elenin (and the 100's of other known comets) in the solar system is contributed to by 1000's of independent amateur astronomers spread all over the globe who do the job completely out of love for the science -- several are members of this forum. They are on no-one's payroll and answer to no-one. There is no viable conspiracy on this subject unless each and every one of them is involved.
The largest chunk of NASA resources actually devoted to this comet are expended on attempting to debunk and refute the infantile conspiracy theorists and their whack-job ideas that this comet poses a threat to humanity. I find it incredibly sad that such a small band of jibbering idiots (no, not NASA, the makers of the videos) with no training in astronomy at all can influence huge numbers of people and convince them that disaster is imminent. Even sadder, is that there are people out there (or so I read on these conspiracy forums) who are speaking of/contemplating suicide to avoid the supposed coming consequences of Elenin/Nibiru or expending substantial amounts of money to prepare shelters etc based on misguided, unfounded opinions spouted by complete nincompoops (sometimes malicious nincompoops).
I am not angry about this any longer. I feel genuinely sad for those who are recklessly and needlessly being led down this path of paranoia and I'm determined to do my bit to soberly and sincerely clear up the mess created by these fools.
THERE IS NOTHNG TO WORRY ABOUT FROM C/2010 X1 ELENIN.
Best,
Les D
Do I need a tinfoil hat this time?? You mean spreading sheep entrails around the yard and burning incense has been a waste of time? Could that guru in the glossy magazine be mistaken? This really is challenging my perception of reality. But if you say so mishku I'll do it - after all you have such a nice mystic name. But no matter what you say I'm stickin' with the lead undies. 
