Comet ISON

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Discussion

SWH

Original Poster:

1,261 posts

209 months

Monday 18th November 2013
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http://www.popastro.com/comet/findercharts/chart.p...

If you're not experiencing weather, and are up before sunrise, then worth a look smile

...not that I've seen it of course!

central

16,744 posts

224 months

Tuesday 19th November 2013
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Will it continue to be early mornings or will it change over time?

SWH

Original Poster:

1,261 posts

209 months

Tuesday 19th November 2013
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I think, if it doesn't disintegrate, it'll be visible in the evenings at the start of December... although I can't remember where I read that, Telegraph article maybe?

No sign of it this morning at 0530, full moon was impressive though*

  • in reality, I was mostly chasing our daft Labrador round the garden!

central

16,744 posts

224 months

Tuesday 19th November 2013
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thumbup

nammynake

2,608 posts

180 months

phil-sti

2,815 posts

186 months

Friday 22nd November 2013
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You can see this every early evening about southwest, it's pretty impressive.

tonyvid

9,875 posts

250 months

Monday 25th November 2013
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phil-sti said:
You can see this every early evening about southwest, it's pretty impressive.
I think that will be Venus - it's amazingly bright at the moment smile

The Comet is a "just before dawn" job in the south east and very low - can't wait for a decent clear morning irked

Eric Mc

122,865 posts

272 months

Monday 25th November 2013
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When it clears the sun, will it be a morning or evening object?

SWH

Original Poster:

1,261 posts

209 months

Monday 25th November 2013
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There's a dirty great hill in the way to the southeast of my garden, and a load of Leylandii a garden over limiting the view somewhat (as does chasing the silly hound around before heading off to catch the train).

Hopefully a clear morning at the weekend and I'll see if I can get the tripod up atop Beachy Head and get a photo.

Supposed to be early morning at the moment, but then daytime after it's rounded the sun, unless it turns to fluff as it passes the sun.

I watched half of the BBC Horizon program on it on the train this evening, could be pretty spectacular if it survives getting round the sun - I may have fallen asleep during that however, ahem, long day, tedious train(!)

If it's clear tomorrow morning I'll drive over the hill to the station and see if I can spot it.

central

16,744 posts

224 months

Tuesday 26th November 2013
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tonyvid said:
I think that will be Venus - it's amazingly bright at the moment smile

The Comet is a "just before dawn" job in the south east and very low - can't wait for a decent clear morning irked
yes

Magnitude 3.8 at the mo, so still quite dim.

tonyvid

9,875 posts

250 months

Tuesday 26th November 2013
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Well, it was clear this morning at 06:20 with twilight breaking on the SE horizon - lovely view of Saturn and Mercury near the horizon but I couldn't find the comet below them. You need a very low horizon and a good clear sky to find it before it bombs around the sun. As Central says, it's 3.8mag but that is it's total brightness so fairly dim in reality.

It's going to need a better star gazer than me to find it at the moment! Saturn looks good though, even through binos it shows as an elipse and I thought that was the comet at first! wobble

funkyrobot

18,789 posts

235 months

Tuesday 26th November 2013
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tonyvid said:
Well, it was clear this morning at 06:20 with twilight breaking on the SE horizon - lovely view of Saturn and Mercury near the horizon but I couldn't find the comet below them. You need a very low horizon and a good clear sky to find it before it bombs around the sun. As Central says, it's 3.8mag but that is it's total brightness so fairly dim in reality.

It's going to need a better star gazer than me to find it at the moment! Saturn looks good though, even through binos it shows as an elipse and I thought that was the comet at first! wobble
Ison encounters the sun on the 28th. If it emerges from the encounter ok, it should be better viewing.

funkyrobot

18,789 posts

235 months

Tuesday 26th November 2013
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Eric Mc said:
When it clears the sun, will it be a morning or evening object?
Both according to this:

http://www.cometison2013.co.uk/comet-ison-brighten...

Morning object according to this:

http://www.theguardian.com/science/2013/nov/25/com...

I guess it depends where you are.

Eric Mc

122,865 posts

272 months

Tuesday 26th November 2013
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No - it shouldn't. Whether it appears just before the sun rises or just after the sun sets is not dependent on where you are standing on the earth.

It depends on the direction of the comet's orbit around the sun.

funkyrobot

18,789 posts

235 months

Tuesday 26th November 2013
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Eric Mc said:
No - it shouldn't. Whether it appears just before the sun rises or just after the sun sets is not dependent on where you are standing on the earth.

It depends on the direction of the comet's orbit around the sun.
Ok. I stand corrected. smile

Simpo Two

87,124 posts

272 months

Tuesday 26th November 2013
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My first question was "Why is it called 'ISON' in capital letters?"

It took a bit of digging to find that it stands for 'International Scientific Optical Network' which is near Kislovodsk, Russia.

rufusruffcutt

1,543 posts

212 months

Tuesday 26th November 2013
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If it survives, this is roughly where it should be in the morning sky.

Eric Mc

122,865 posts

272 months

Tuesday 26th November 2013
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Thank you. That sorts out my query perfectly.

Vocal Minority

8,582 posts

159 months

Tuesday 26th November 2013
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I really hope it survives. I live on the Malvern Hills overlooking the Severn Vale, and am out of the house before dawn at this time of year. Prime viewing spot.

Vocal Minority

8,582 posts

159 months

Tuesday 26th November 2013
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I really hope it survives. I live on the Malvern Hills overlooking the Severn Vale, and am out of the house before dawn at this time of year. Prime viewing spot.