Posted on 09/23/2013 12:54:40 PM PDT by BenLurkin
Currently, ISON sits about a magnitude below the projected light curve, (see below) but that isn’t all that unusual for a comet. Already, there’s been increasing talk of “ISON being a dud,” but as Universe Today’s Nancy Atkinson pointed out in a recent post, these assertions are still premature. The big question is what ISON will do leading up to perihelion, and if it will survive its passage 1.1 million kilometres above the surface of the Sun on November 28th to become a fine comet in the dawn skies in the weeks leading up to Christmas.
Of course, there’s much speculation as to whether this will be the “comet of the century” shining as “bright as the Full Moon” near perihelion. We caught up with veteran comet observer John Bortle earlier this year to see what skywatchers might expect from this comet in late 2013. We’ve also chronicled the online wackiness of comets past and present as ISON makes its way into the pantheon as the most recently fashionable scapegoat for “the end of the world of the week…”
I will be amazed if much of it is intact after coming 1.1 million km close to the sun
that’s 150 times closer than the earth
and 46 times closer than mercury
no linky, this thread is a dud.
Article link?
Oh $$&*@! No link. Are we all gonna die or see something neat?
How does it compare to Lovejoy a few years ago?
http://www.universetoday.com/104818/comet-ison-a-viewing-guide-from-now-to-perihelion/
Fingers crossed for a great show. Haven’t had a good one in the U.S. since the late 90s.
http://www.universetoday.com/104818/comet-ison-a-viewing-guide-from-now-to-perihelion/#more-104818
http://www.johnspeedie.com/healy/algoof.wav
http://www.johnspeedie.com/healy/idid.wav
I remember Comet Kohoutek almost exactly 40 years ago to the month. It was visible, but basically a dud. We won’t know about Ison until she fizzles or explodes. Can’t say I hope for a spectacular show, because so much of humanity believes that such events portend megachanges. Not saying that I so believe, but if billions do so believe, that can severely affect the global psychology.
How do they predict if a comet will brighten up or not?
They don’t, and they usually guess wrong.
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