Comets PANSTARRS & ISON

[Gary]

A couple of comets too look out for in March and October

In October, comet ISON is predicted to be as bright as the moon

More info Earth Sky

But before that in March comet PANSTARRS should be visible

Earth Sky

Let's hope there ain't any mass suicides this time like the Heaven's Gate loonies after Comet Hale–Bopp visit back in 1997

[Viv]

Fingers crossed for ISON Gary.

If it turns out as expected, it will be an amazing sight for a while

[TankBuster]

Thanks for the early heads up!

I remember comet Hale Bopp back in 1997 & wow that was very spectacular! It was visible to the naked eye for several weeks

I hope ISON proves to be as spectacular as HB was.

TankBuster

[stevep22]

Remember it well. I recall having my telescope set up on the front lawn observing it and I had a constant stream of neighbours and local dog-walkers stopping by asking if they could have a look.

The last I saw of it was in July when I noticed it from the window of my Monarch flight from Puerto Vallarta returning to the UK and at 34,000ft over Texas.

Steve

[RichC]

Remember Hale Bopp too, although i didn't know it was as far back as 1997, that's mad. Remember seeing it every clear night with the naked eye quite clearly. Hasn't there been a visible comet in the early 2000's? Just Hale Bopp seems so far down the line now.

[RichC]

If it looks better or just as good as this, would be awesome.

Taken in Chile in 2007 of a different Comet.
http://www.independent.co.uk/incoming/a ... ettyv1.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Viv]

There was Comet Garradd last year, I only managed a single sub, once i'd sorted finding it & having a clear session.

Still looked stunning (through a scope).

[davedubya]

I'd be content with another comet like 17P/Holmes, let alone another Hale-Bopp.

[RichC]

Don't get too excited ..... yet
http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/acros ... et-century" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Gary]

Nick Howes on Twitter posted a pic of the Comet ISON last night

Comet of the Century ? C/2012 S1 ISON from today's imaging on @faulkestel - 600 million km away, mag 16+

Info and pic from https://twitter.com/NickAstronomer" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[TankBuster]

If any of you have the Stellarium software loaded onto your PC's then you can also update it to add Comets to the list of things to find in the night sky. The list does include Ison.

TankBuster

[Sooty]

I have Stellarium on my desktop PC,is it a simple process to update it?
I'm crap with computers! lol

Regards,
Soot.y

[davedubya]

I have Stellarium on my desktop PC,is it a simple process to update it?
I'm crap with computers! lol

Regards,
Soot.y

It's looks complicated, but it's not really:

- Press F2 to bring up the Configuration panel.
- Select the Plugins tab > select Solar System Editor > click on Configure (and tick "Load at Startup") > Click on "Import Orbital Elements"
- First select either Asteroids or Comets, then select a source from the drop-down menu (start with the MPC lists)
- Then it'll bring up a list of objects - you can either pick out certain comets/asteroids or get them all. Then Add Objects.

They should now be in your database, and you can search for them.

[Sooty]

Thankyou.

[TankBuster]

The update on Stellarium will only work if you have the latest verion installed... I think the latest version of Stellarium is 0.11.4.

There is also a bit more info about adding comets to Stellarium over on the Stargazers Lounge forum...
http://stargazerslounge.com/topic/11397 ... tellarium/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

TankBuster

[Gary]

Looks like the first Comet 'PANSTARRS' might not be as bright as first predicted. Oh well fingers crossed for ISON

Nick Howes ‏@NickAstronomer
Comet Panstarrs (C/2011 L4) is showing a marked drop in brightness against what was hoped. That's "1" of the comets of the year ;-)

[Gary]

Comet PANSTARRS due to be visible next week fingers crossed for clear skies

[davedubya]

Time to start scouting out a clear western horizon.

[Viv]

There is a very good link going round on f/book - will try & copy it over, when I fire up the lappy later......

[davedubya]

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