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| Approaching Comet! | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Jan 25 2009, 02:32 PM (204 Views) | |
| Mark | Jan 25 2009, 02:32 PM Post #1 |
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HOLY CARP!!!
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APPROACHING COMET: Comet Lulin (C/2007 N3) is approaching Earth for a 38 million mile close encounter in late February. At that time, the comet could brighten to naked eye visibility (5th magnitude). Meanwhile, it's a nice target for backyard telescopes: http://spaceweather.com/comets/gallery_lulin_page2.htm?PHPSESSID=p3crhtm82qk3g7v8il62p0okc1 ![]() Chris Brennan of Barbados took the picture using a 7-inch telescope on Jan. 24th. "Note the double tail," he says. M. Mc Kenna sends this report from Northern ireland: "I checked out Comet Lulin this morning before dawn using a 8.5-inch reflector. My immediate impression was that the comet is very bright; the coma is healthy and active with an obvious green color. [Note: The 'coma' is the comet's gaseous atmosphere.] Seeing both tails at the same time was quite a treat! I also looked at the comet using a pair of binoculars and despite the poor quality of the opticsI was still able to find the comet easily. Finally, I tried very carefully to detect it with the naked eye but I just couldn't convince myself that it was visible. However, I suspect that with excellent sky conditions the first naked eye observations will be reported very soon. This comet could very well put on a good show in February!" |
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___.___ (_]===* o 0 When I see an adult on a bicycle, I do not despair for the future of the human race. H.G. Wells | |
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| George K | Jan 25 2009, 02:46 PM Post #2 |
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Finally
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Any guesses as to how big it'll be? I would love to see something as spectacular as Hale-Bopp! 38 million miles? That's closer than Mars (most of the time)! w00t! |
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A guide to GKSR: Click "Now look here, you Baltic gas passer... " - Mik, 6/14/08 Nothing is as effective as homeopathy. I'd rather listen to an hour of Abba than an hour of The Beatles. - Klaus, 4/29/18 | |
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| George K | Jan 25 2009, 02:49 PM Post #3 |
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Finally
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" The most interesting thing about closest approach, however, is the comet's ridiculously high apparent velocity. Comet Lulin will be speeding along at more than 5° per day! This means that in a telescope or binoculars, one will actually be able to see the comet's apparent motion against the background stars! This effect is a must-see, and does not present itself often." |
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A guide to GKSR: Click "Now look here, you Baltic gas passer... " - Mik, 6/14/08 Nothing is as effective as homeopathy. I'd rather listen to an hour of Abba than an hour of The Beatles. - Klaus, 4/29/18 | |
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| Mark | Jan 25 2009, 02:51 PM Post #4 |
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HOLY CARP!!!
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I will try to take a photo or two. |
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___.___ (_]===* o 0 When I see an adult on a bicycle, I do not despair for the future of the human race. H.G. Wells | |
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| kenny | Jan 25 2009, 04:28 PM Post #5 |
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HOLY CARP!!!
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What makes it green? |
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| ivorythumper | Jan 25 2009, 04:30 PM Post #6 |
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I am so adjective that I verb nouns!
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Envy |
| The dogma lives loudly within me. | |
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| kenny | Jan 25 2009, 04:33 PM Post #7 |
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HOLY CARP!!!
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What would a comet envy? |
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| Mark | Jan 25 2009, 05:14 PM Post #8 |
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HOLY CARP!!!
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poor color balance. |
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___.___ (_]===* o 0 When I see an adult on a bicycle, I do not despair for the future of the human race. H.G. Wells | |
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| jon-nyc | Jan 26 2009, 02:57 AM Post #9 |
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Cheers
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Hale-Bopp has a longer tail. |
| In my defense, I was left unsupervised. | |
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| Klaus | Jan 26 2009, 03:34 AM Post #10 |
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HOLY CARP!!!
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Ah, this will be great target practice for my new Dobson telescope
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| Trifonov Fleisher Klaus Sokolov Zimmerman | |
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| Mikhailoh | Jan 26 2009, 03:45 AM Post #11 |
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If you want trouble, find yourself a redhead
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This might be worth getting a 'scope for. |
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Once in his life, every man is entitled to fall madly in love with a gorgeous redhead - Lucille Ball | |
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| Mark | Jan 26 2009, 09:47 PM Post #12 |
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HOLY CARP!!!
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Go for it Mik!
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___.___ (_]===* o 0 When I see an adult on a bicycle, I do not despair for the future of the human race. H.G. Wells | |
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