http://www.astronomynow.com/news/n1209/25comet/
New comet might blaze brighter than the full Moon
BY PETER GREGO
ASTRONOMY NOW
Posted: 25 September 2012
A new comet has been discovered that is predicted to blaze incredibly brilliantly in the skies during late 2013. With a perihelion passage of less than two million kilometres from the Sun on 28 November 2013, current predictions are of an object that will dazzle the eye at up to magnitude —16. That's far brighter than the full Moon. If predictions hold true then C/2012 S1 will certainly be one of the greatest comets in human history, far outshining the memorable Comet Hale-Bopp of 1997 and very likely to outdo the long-awaited Comet Pan-STARRS (C/2011 L4) which is set to stun in March 2013.
The new comet, named C/2012 S1 (ISON) was found by the International Scientific Optical Network (ISON) in Russia on 21 September when astronomers Vitali Nevski and Artyom Novichonok captured it on CCD images taken through a 0.4-metre reflector. Its near-parabolic orbit suggests that it has arrived fresh from the Oort Cloud, a vast zone of icy objects orbiting the Sun, pristine remnants of the formation of the Solar System.
C/2012 S1 currently resides in the northwestern corner of Cancer. At magnitude +18 it is too dim to be seen visually but it will be within the reach of experienced amateur astronomers with CCD equipment in the coming months as it brightens. It is expected to reach binocular visibility by late summer 2013 and a naked eye object in early November of that year. Northern hemisphere observers are highly favoured. Following its peak brightness in late November it will remain visible without optical aid until mid-January 2014.
Comet brightness predictions sometimes exceed their performance. Amateur astronomers of a certain age may remember the Comet Kohoutek hype of 1973 – not quite the 'damp squib' it has been portrayed, since it reached naked eye visibility! Even if C/2012 S1 takes on the same light curve as Kohoutek it is certain to be spectacular, quite possibly a once-in-a-civilisation's-lifetime event.
Well, if the universe doesn't end at the end of this year...I have something to look forward to! WOOT!
Quote from: Amaterasu on September 26, 2012, 08:18:19 PM
I have something to look forward to! WOOT!
Oh great.... the next DOOMSDAY harbringer is already on the way :-\
Or maybe its another Alien Spacecraft... like Elenin, coming to collect the true believers
Kool-Aid anyone?
I'm just really looking forward to two exceptional comets next year, March and November.
Looks like I finally have to go pick up that telescope I inherited....
Pics or they didn't happen :P
Predicted path of comet C/2012 S1 (ISON) - September 25, 2012
(https://planetary.s3.amazonaws.com/assets/images/charts-diagrams/20120925_Comet_ISON_path.jpg)
The comet will be 'chasing' the sun as both move east. After perihelion, the comet will swing hard to the north. The comet's predicted path is very precisely known; tail lengths are only guesses.
New 'Sun-Skirting' Comet Could Provide Dazzling Display in 2013(http://www.universetoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/ORizUF-580x569.jpg)
Quote2013 is looking to be a promising year for potential naked-eye comets, as a new comet has been discovered that will likely skirt close to the Sun, and could provide a stunning display late next year. The comet, named Comet C/2012 S1 (ISON), as it was discovered by a Russian team at the International Scientific Optical Network (ISON), is currently about the distance of Jupiter's orbit. But it is projected to come within less than 2 million km from the Sun at perihelion by November 28, 2013. Ernesto Guido and Giovanni Sostero from the Remanzacco Observatory in Italy, along with their colleague Nick Howes from the UK have imaged the comet with the RAS telescope in New Mexico, and say, "According to its orbit, this comet might become a naked-eye object in the period November 2013 – January 2014. And it might reach a negative magnitude at the end of November 2013."
This new comet joins Comet C/2011 L4 PanSTARRS, which is projected to come within 45 million kilometers (28 million miles) of the Sun on March 9, 2013, which is close enough for quite a bit of cometary ice to vaporize and form a bright coma and tail. Comet PanSTARRS will be visible at perihelion to southern hemisphere, while Comet ISON should be visible to mid-latitude northern hemisphere skywatchers, according to the Remanzacco team.
New 'Sun-Skirting' Comet Could Provide Dazzling Display in 2013 (http://www.universetoday.com/97561/new-sun-skirting-comet-could-provide-dazzling-display-in-2013/)(http://www.universetoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/comet-ison.jpg)
Comet Pan-STARRS: How Bright Will it Get?(http://www.universetoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/PANSTAARS-090412-0031ut-EMr-580x446.jpg)
Comet PanSTARRS on September 4, 2012 as seen from Puerto Rico. Credit: Efrain Morales/Jaicoa Observatory.QuoteEarly next year, a comet will come fairly close to Earth and the Sun — traveling within the orbit of Mercury — and it has the potential to be visible to the naked eye. Amateur and professional astronomers alike have been keeping watch on Comet C/2011 L4 PanSTARRS (or PanSTARRS for short), trying to ascertain just how bright this comet may become. It will come within 45 million kilometers (28 million miles) of the Sun on March 9, 2013, which is close enough for quite a bit of cometary ice to vaporize and form a bright coma and tail.
But just how bright, no one can say for sure. Comets have been known to be very unpredictable (remember the breakup of Comet Elenin?) but some estimates have said this comet could become a naked-eye object, as bright as Vega or Arcturus next March.
Right now it is at about Magnitude 12, and skywatchers in the southern hemisphere observers will have a great view as this comet gets closer and brighter, as it will remain high in the sky. But right now, skywatchers in the northern latitudes are saying farewell to Comet PANSTARRS, as it becomes low on the horizon. Astrophotographer Efrain Morales from Puerto Rico took the image above on September 4th, 2012 at 00:31 UTC. "It was very difficult to image due to the forest tree tops and sunset light but I was able to capture it at high magnification," Efrain told us. (He used an LX200ACF 12 inch, OTA, CGE mount, F10, ST402xmi Ccd, Astronomik Ir/UV filter at 2 minutes. )
Comet Pan-STARRS: How Bright Will it Get? (http://www.universetoday.com/97208/comet-pan-starrs-how-bright-will-it-get/)
Quote from: zorgon on September 26, 2012, 08:21:30 PM
Oh great.... the next DOOMSDAY harbringer is already on the way :-\
Or maybe its another Alien Spacecraft... like Elenin, coming to collect the true believers
Kool-Aid anyone?
Maybe it will take away the doomsday believers and leave the rest of us here. What will we do without them? They won't know the world didn't end. :o
I did just buy a new pair of Nike sneakers, and a nice workout sweatsuit... :o
If it can be seen from Earth, there should be numerous angles to view online, right?
And wont the SoHo get a good shot at it?
Le