I'm cheating a little on this one only because I have a soft spot for periodic comets. Not only is it well placed in the evening sky, the bright star will serve as a sweet guidepost. Dessert comes last so don't spoil your appetite. About mid-November, 46P launches straight north with ever-increasing speed, rocketing in brightness and altitude until it towers in Taurus in all of its 4th-magnitude glory two weeks before Christmas. Comet 46P's exceptionally close approach to Earth of Comet Wirtanen is intrinsically bright, comes closest to our planet just four days after perihelion, and remains visible all night, making this an exceptional apparition.
Should 46P only manage binocular brightness, it would only be asserting its individuality, something we've come to expect from these icy characters.
For visual observers and astrophotographers, the late fall and early winter season will be a great time to visit with "old friends" with no fewer than four periodic comets visible simultaneously — 21P, 38P, 64P, and 46P. Happy hunting! Log in to Reply. Bob King Post Author. About mag. I have observed all but three of these comets. Several in the past few months and the three periodic comets several times.
If it is very small and diffuse as you pointed out, I probably did not have a chance to locate because of its appearance and the observing conditions in Western Pa.
The few images that I have seen of it show a very sad looking comet. I've read recent magnitude estimates for it ranging from 9. It certainly didn't turn out to be what some astronomers had hoped for. Transparency was variable here, with it reaching good at best. Seeing was poor at 2 to 2- for both seeing and steadiness.
This might be my last at the 21" Scope for January thanks to another bad weather system moving in. From my records for 45 years of observing, January is the worst month of the year. Seldom do I get more than 1 or 2 nights viewing with any of my or Wagman Observatory's scopes.
July through October are usually the best months for Astronomy here. December, through February are the worst. Looking forward to warm weather observing, though last night was mild for this time of the year with temps in the mid 40s F.
Hi Bob, Thanks for the interesting article about current comet prospects. That undoubtedly took a lot of research. When weather and moon light permit, I'l give some of these a try. Over the years I've been privileged to see over two dozen comets. These have been recorded in either my visual observing log or in photographs on film or by digital means. That record of the observation with my home-made 8-inch reflector shows just this for December 29, Hopefully this time around I'll get to see more than just a fuzzy object.
If not for Stephan-Oterma, then maybe some of the other comets. And who knows what as yet unknown incoming cometary spectacle is on the way. Thank you, Russ! We'll also present a timeline of events that will give you the opportunity to see or photograph the comet in a picturesque setting.
And Comet 21P will just be a warm-up. It rises in late evening and then is carried higher in the sky as the night wears on. Right now, the comet's brightness is approximately magnitude 7. This comet's orbit is inclined by 32 degrees from our solar system's plane, so rather than moving east-west as the moon and planets do, it follows a southward path through the stars — which is down and toward the right for Northern Hemisphere observers.
Between now and Sept. After that, 21P will move through the feet of Gemini's western twin, Castor, for a few nights and then follow the boundary between Orion and Gemini until Sept.
The comet will finish September by following the Milky Way, traveling through the modest constellation of Monoceros, more or less toward the very bright star Sirius. Then, 21P will spend October skirting the eastern edge of Canis Major. It's unknown how long the comet will remain a target for binoculars, but telescope users with tracking capability should be able to find and view 21P for the next two months or so.
You can use your astronomy app to display the path of a comet against the sky. In the SkySafari app Plus and Pro versions, use the search option, select the comet and tap the Center icon on the Info page. The sky will now include the comet's path, with labeled tick marks at one-day intervals. You can also advance to future dates and see where the comet will be at any given date and time.
Below is a timeline of encounters for Comet 21P through the end of October. The times and locations are based on the currently predicted orbit of the comet and are subject to change.
You can preview each encounter by setting your app to the appropriate date and then selecting and centering the comet in the display. Configure the app's displayed field of view to include some of the surrounding sky. Because the comet will be moving quickly, its distance from objects will vary depending on the part of the world where you're observing. Adjust the time forward or back in your app to determine the best time to see each pairing at your location. The comet will be observable worldwide, from mid-southern latitudes all the way to the Arctic, but Southern Hemisphere skywatchers will need to wait until the predawn hours for the comet to climb high enough to be seen clearly.
The comet will not be high enough for skywatchers to observe it until after midnight, so events in the list happen in the early hours on the date listed, i. I have included some screen captures to illustrate the encounters. Although it may be seen with the naked eye, the best ways to get a glimpse of this comet will be with binoculars or a telescope.
On Dec. ET on Dec. IE 11 is not supported. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser.
0コメント