Approaching comet may outshine the moon October 2013

[abbow]

most likely it was the ISS or a normal comm satellite...comm sat pass by are more common....

[original_lollybob]

I missed the moon

[SMc]

visibilty is not good here once again as expected

[maj. tom]

Gemini Observatory Captures Comet ISON Hurtling Toward Uncertain Destiny with the Sun

Looks like comet ISON is on course to the sun to be a spectacular vision for Earth in late 2013.

Gemini Observatory Press/Image Release
For release on May 30, 2013 at 10:00 am EDT

Images of Comet ISON obtained using the Gemini Multi-Object Spectrograph at Gemini North on February 4, March 4, April 3, and May 4, 2013 (left to right, respectively; Comet ISON at center in all images).

Technical Specifications: The three images on left are through an r-band filter only, and the color composite on right includes g, i, and r bands. All are integrated for 2 x 45 seconds with the February 4 image integrated for 2 x 75 seconds (increasing the comet’s apparent brightness). During the period of this sequence, the comet shined at about magnitude 15.5-16.5 in visible light. In these images north is up [need to flip image top/bottom] east is left, and the field-of-view is about 2.5 arcminutes across, which corresponds to about 270,000-290,000 miles (435,000-470,000 kilometers) at the distance of the comet.

Color composite produced by Travis Rector, University of Alaska Anchorage.

Credit: Gemini Observatory/AURA

On November 28, 2013, Comet ISON will make one of the closest passes ever recorded as a comet grazes the Sun, penetrating our star’s million-degree outer atmosphere, called the corona, and moving to within 800,000 miles (1.3 million km) of the Sun’s surface. Shortly before that critical passage, the comet may appear bright enough for expert observers using proper care to see it close to the Sun in daylight.

What happens after that no one knows for sure. But if Comet ISON survives that close encounter, the comet may appear in our morning sky before dawn in early December and become one of the greatest comets in the last 50 years or more. Even if the comet completely disintegrates, skywatchers shouldn’t lose hope. When Comet C/2011 W3 (Lovejoy) plunged into the Sun’s corona in December 2011, its nucleus totally disintegrated into tiny bits of ice and dust, yet it still put on a glorious show after that event.

http://www.gemini.edu/node/12006

[rocknrolla]

latest images of comet ISON creating questions yet unanswered.









http://hla.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/display?image=hlsp_ison_hst_wfc3_130430_f606w_v1&autoscale=&title=Ison+130430+WFC3+F606W

[redmanjp]

^ holy sheit it's General Zod comin fuh we dey?!

[redmanjp]

can't find it on that site though

[MG Man]

so this is RAMA or RAMA II?

[K74T]

Comet me bro

[rocknrolla]

it's been explained as an optical illusion caused by the Hubble changing position in orbit during long exposure shots. 3 shots were stacked while the hubble had it's focus fixed on the backdrop of the stars and not the comet itself giving the impression of an approx. 125 degrees. more images will be coming this week.

we're still working out a few discrepancies with the data but for the most part there is an explanation for a new method used by nasa to track the comet.

[Duane 3NE 2NR]

it's been explained as an optical illusion caused by the Hubble changing position in orbit during long exposure shots. 3 shots were stacked while the hubble had it's focus fixed on the backdrop of the stars and not the comet itself giving the impression of an approx. 125 degrees. more images will be coming this week.

we're still working out a few discrepancies with the data but for the most part there is an explanation for a new method used by nasa to track the comet.

we?

[rocknrolla]

yes ive been studying with a group of astronomers and photographers over the past few days. learning alot about observing celestial objects.

[maj. tom]

Here's an update. It will be visible soon enough. It is now visible through binoculars.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/11/11/us-space-comet-idUSBRE9AA11620131111

(Reuters) - A comet is heading for a close encounter with the sun later this month, and if it is not vaporized or torn apart, it should be visible to the naked eye in December.

Comet ISON is expected to pass just about 621,000 miles (1 million km) from the sun's surface on November 28.

[MG Man]

yes ive been studying with a group of astronomers and photographers over the past few days. learning alot about observing celestial objects.

your magnificence makes my vagina tingle

[Dizzy28]

So should we break out the white sneakers and Special Kool Aid?

[[X]~Outlaw]

yes ive been studying with a group of astronomers and photographers over the past few days. learning alot about observing celestial objects.

oooooohh you're soooo dreamy!

[X2]

whoa rolla..... you guys working with nasa on that new method to track the comet too ?

We should share data... meet us tonight at the Laventille observatory....the top of the hill, behind the water tank.

[maj. tom]

well this has turned out to be so disappointing

Scientists: Comet ISON probably didn't survive close encounter with sun

STOCKHOLM (AP) — Once billed as the comet of the century, Comet ISON apparently was no match for the sun.

Images from NASA spacecraft showed the comet approaching for a slingshot around the sun on Thursday, but nothing coming out on the other side.

http://phys.org/news/2013-11-sun-grazing-comet-ison-broke.html





Oh well. Until next time.

[MG Man]

nooooooooôöóœ

[Swift Boy]