Brightening comet looks set to delight astronomers in May

Skymania ^ | 3/16/20 | Paul Sutherland

[LibWhacker]

Oh, cool... Showed up just in time. Harbinger of Death. Every plague needs one.

[BenLurkin]

Wolf-Biederman?

[mosesdapoet]

Good job Thanks

[Ezekiel]

Oh, cool... Showed up just in time. Harbinger of Death. Every plague needs one.

C/2019 Y4 ATLAS

No problem!

[grimalkin]

I remember seeing comet Hale-Bopp while I was driving on the freeway at sunset. It was so bright you couldn’t miss it. It was pretty cool.

[politicianslie]

I have a Nikon P1000 and a new carbon fiber tripod that I was going to try in Oregon for a few summer night time shots. The camera is too heavy and big for my last tripod.

I will try a few shots of the comet when we get a clear night.

Thanks for posting.

[Professional]

It’s only cool if people might die.

[yarddog]

Hale-Bopp was the only comet I have ever seen. I tried to see Halley’s comet and even bought a telescope but never saw it.

I was visiting my parents around 1997. They lived in the middle of nowhere and Hale-Bopp was visible. I set up a 22 power spotting scope and it was clear tho still pretty small.

My parents were getting ready for bed when I asked them if they wanted to see a comet. They were in their 80s and I wa a bit surprised when they came outside.

The spotter was a good one with ED glass elements. Maybe I will get it out again.

[noiseman]

Let’s see: Pestilence, earthquakes, and now a sign in the heavens. Hmmm.....

[Ciaphas Cain]

Comet Hyakutake in March of '96 was way brighter than Hale-Bopp but it went really fast past Earth.

At closest approach that tail spread across half the night sky and you could literally SEE the comet moving against the background stars from one minute to the next. It was incredible.

[Buttons12]

Signs and portents, people!!

[eartick]

CV/2019 Y4 ATLAS

There, made it fit the 24/7 news cycle

[Alberta's Child]

As I remember it, Hale-Bopp was a massive comet but did not pass close enough to the earth to do itself any justice. Hyakutake was much smaller but passed closer to the earth than almost any other comet in the last several hundred years -- hence the brilliant tail that was readily visible in the sky.

Unfortunately for those of us in the northern hemisphere, we missed perhaps the most spectacular comet in our lifetimes -- Comet McNaught in 2007.

[piasa]

Don’t forget locusts. They’re on the move.

But we are still short of frogs, a host over the sun, a Chevy on the levy, and whiskey and rye.

[fieldmarshaldj]

*ping*

[SunkenCiv]

Comets always look like some tagger spraypainted the sky. :^)

[PrairieLady2]

That was the most beautiful I’ve ever seen...and omg gorgeous through good binoculars. I took the my kids and a neighborhood kid to the lake where it was good and dark, to see it with the glasses although it showed up under city lights as well. Then the following year was halebop and so it was nice seeing a comet in the sky again. I love comets.

[grimalkin]

Wow!

[Tallguy]

LOL! Thinking the same thing!

[Daffynition]

Now you have *me* making connections!

COVID 19 or Psalm 91?

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High

will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.

I will say to the LORD, “My refuge and my fortress,

my God, in whom I trust.”

For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler

and from the deadly pestilence.

He will cover you with his pinions,

and under his wings you will find refuge;

his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.

You will not fear the terror of the night,

nor the arrow that flies by day,

nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness,

nor the destruction that wastes at noonday.

A thousand may fall at your side,

ten thousand at your right hand,

but it will not come near you.

You will only look with your eyes

and see the recompense of the wicked.

Because you have made the LORD your dwelling place—

the Most High, who is my refuge—

no evil shall be allowed to befall you,

no plague come near your tent.

For he will command his angels concerning you

to guard you in all your ways.

On their hands they will bear you up,

lest you strike your foot against a stone.

You will tread on the lion and the adder;

the young lion and the serpent you will trample underfoot.

“Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him;

I will protect him, because he knows my name.

When he calls to me, I will answer him;

I will be with him in trouble;

I will rescue him and honor him.

With long life I will satisfy him

and show him my salvation.”