Comets PANSTARRS & ISON

[davedubya]

It's worth noting that PanSTARRS is almost certainly being overhyped. It's not going to be the easiest object to observe.

[Viv]

Here is the viewing guide

http://earthsky.org/space/comet-panstar ... march-2013" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Sooty]

Anybody managed to spot it yet? Clouded out here again.

[davedubya]

Saw it tonight. Took a bit of patience to locate, the viewing guides aren't too much help in real terms.

Comet C/2011 L4 (PanSTARRS) by Cosmos Photography, on Flickr

[Viv]

Got one tonight - but need a lower west view, or wait until it's a bit higher.........

[Gary]

Looks like the press might have got excited a little to quickly about ISON http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/ ... ember.html and http://www.redorbit.com/news/space/1112 ... ly-073013/

[Gary]

Comet ISON should be making it's appearance within a month Now they are saying it might be impressive again http://www.theregister.co.uk/2013/10/22 ... rovements/

[GreenBat]

Initial reports coming in is that, Comet ISON appears to have broken up as it passed close to the sun

http://news.sky.com/story/1174976/comet ... lose-track

[sjnovis]

Reports on BBC Breakfast news this morning is now they believe some of the comet is intact and might be visible in December

[Fastwalker]

We might be lucky , ISON has survived or at least part of it. See here http://www.spaceweather.com/

[toom317]

Trying to load the comet C/2013/R1, Lovejoy, into stellarium but not having much luck finding a link to do it. Any tips?

[Viv]

Trying to load the comet C/2013/R1, Lovejoy, into stellarium but not having much luck finding a link to do it. Any tips?

I haven't tried this for a while, but here are the instructions I have saved :

http://stargazerslounge.com/topic/11397 ... tellarium/


I thought I would add this method as I haven't seen it posted here before, apologies if it has been.
Up until recently to add comets and other extra's to Stellarium you have had to use an ini. file and copy it into Stellariums code however this new method makes it fairly simple to do in the main Stellarium application itself adding it directly from the Minor Planet Center.

I'm going to use Comet Garradd as an example as it came up in another thread and is the hot must see comet of the times but it is just as easy to select any other object you like.
It is however important that you upgrade Sellarium to the latest release for it to work.

1. Press F2 to open the "configuration" window. Under the "Plugins" tab in the "Configuration" window, select "Solar System Editor". Under "options" at the bottom of the tab, click the "Configure" button. A window for "Solar System; objects" will open. Under the "Solar System tab" of the "Solar System objects" window, click the "Import orbital elements in MPC format" button at the bottom of the tab. An "import data" window will open.

2.Under the "lists" tab of the "Import data" window, Select the "type" as "comets"; select the "source" as "download a list of objects from the internet"; under "or select from the list" click on "Select bookmark" and select "MPC's list of observable comets," and then click the button "get orbital elements."
A list of objects found will load. Scroll down and check the box next to C/2009 Garradd, then click the "Add; objects". C/2009 Garradd will then be added to your solar system. Close the Solar System editor and Configuration window.

3. If you want to see where Garradd will be in the sky, you'll need to update your location and time.

4. Find Garradd. Press F3 to open the "Find object" window. Type in "C/2009 Garradd" and you should only see one choice "C/2009 Garradd" below the search box. Click the magnifying glass at the right of the search box to lock in on Garradd. It will automatically give you a view of the sky where Garradd is located.

I hope that is easy enough to follow.:rolleyes:


Good luck !!!

[davedubya]

Adding objects into Stellarium isn't exactly the most intuitive process.

Open Stellarium
- Configuration Window [F2] > Plugins Tab > Solar System Editor
- Select "configure"
- Solar System tab > Import orbital elements in MPC format
- Check Comets > Select the source "MPC's list of observable comets" from the dropdown menu
- Click "Import orbital elements in MPC format"
- Check "Update existing objects"
- Then you can either mark all, or find and select the particular comet you want if you know the designation.

Then hit "add objects" and they should now appear in the search.