COMET ISON APPROACHES

SpaceWeather.com ^ | January 8, 2013 | John Chumack

[Errant]

Later this year, Comet ISON could put on an unforgettable display as it plunges toward the sun for a fiery encounter likely to turn the "dirty snowball" into a naked-eye object in broad daylight. At the moment, however, it doesn't look like much. John Chumack sends this picture, taken Jan. 8th, from his private observatory in Yellow Springs, Ohio:

[Errant]

Comet ISON is a sungrazer. On Nov. 28, 2013, it will fly through the sun's outer atmosphere only 1.2 million km from the stellar surface below. If the comet survives the encounter, it could emerge glowing as brightly as the Moon, visible near the sun in the blue daylight sky. The comet's dusty tail stretching into the night would create a worldwide sensation.

As comet ISON makes its approach, it will dive in toward the Sun from slightly above the orbital plane of the planets and then exit out below this plane. If the comet survives its encounter with the sun in one piece, it will pass some distance in front of and below the earth at roughly 250,000 mph, and cross earth's orbit in about one week after its closest approach to the sun. If it breaks up, depending upon where this occurs and the amount of surviving debris, it could be even more interesting!

[Errant]

fyi

[Errant]

This youtuber does a good job using starrynight to give an idea of Ison's size and brightness during its transistion, provided it meets expectations and doesn't break apart.

Comet C/2012 SI (ISON) How bright will it get?

[FredZarguna]

[Errant]

LOL!

SAO 60312 INCOMING!!!

[Democrat_media]

If it could only hit Washington DC

[dr_lew]

Mmmm. But man, magnitude 16 is pretty impressive. You know, that exposure looks like film to me. You don’t suppose that’s film, do you? Geez, I wouldn’t think so, but it looks like it!

[SaraJohnson]

Hopefully the sun won’t belch at earth as Ison gets close.

[Errant]

I hope it stays in one piece and on its original trajectory. It's possible ISON could break up or materials evaporating from the surface from intense heat alter its course, or similar to what you said, impact the sun, creating a large flare and etc.

If it breaks up, there could be a slight possibility that we could see some of the debris headed in our direction. If it stays together, not much chance of it ever hitting earth, even if the original trajectory is altered somehow.

Much depends upon the size of the nucleus. I haven't seen any accurate information on this.

[Errant]

I hope it stays in one piece and on its original trajectory. It's possible ISON could break up or materials evaporating from the surface from intense heat alter its course, or similar to what you said, impact the sun, creating a large flare and etc.

If it breaks up, there could be a slight possibility that we could see some of the debris headed in our direction. If it stays together, not much chance of it ever hitting earth, even if the original trajectory is altered somehow.

Much depends upon the size of the nucleus. I haven't seen any accurate information on this.

[FredZarguna]

Yeah, I sure thought it was a plate when I saw it.

[The Cajun]

Saw a simulation of what it *should* look like, will be quite a show before sunset and at sunrise.
If it survives, the tail should cover a decent portion of the sky, according to the simulation.
Then again, the last 2, forget their names, were big fizzles.

[The Cajun]

LOL, should have looked further down, the simulation in your post #4 is the same one I saw previously.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks Errant.

[ILS21R]

Thanks for that link. I traveled south to see Comet Halley and while thankful that I could observe it, it wasn’t the “show” I thought it would be. I am really looking forward to Comet Ison.

[JRios1968]

Mmmm. But man, magnitude 16 is pretty impressive.

When it comes to celestial objects, the higher the magnitude, the less visible the object is. Just making sure you knew that.

[FroggyTheGremlim]

"Then again, the last 2, forget their names"

Comet Kohoutek in 1973

and Halley's Comet in 1986.

Both overhyped duds.

(Hard to believe Kohoutek was almost 40 years ago!)

[Revelation 911]

Hale Bopp was impressive

[FroggyTheGremlim]

On Jupiter.