The Great Christmas Comet of 2011, 2011 W3 (Lovejoy) |
The Great Christmas Comet of 2011, 2011 W3 (Lovejoy) |
Guest_Sunspot_* |
Dec 2 2011, 09:59 PM
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Guests |
http://sungrazer.nrl.navy.mil/index.php?p=.../birthday_comet
Possible very bright sungrazing comet coming mid December - Comet Lovejoy C/2011 W3 (Lovejoy) Information in the link above. |
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Dec 20 2011, 11:51 PM
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Member Group: Members Posts: 723 Joined: 13-June 04 Member No.: 82 |
Oh-oh. That title change may have been premature. It appears that the comet nucleus may have broken up within the past few hours.
From comet-ml post #18949: QUOTE Comets gets weaker, today pictures in V-filtered exposures giving at 20.34 UT: ~3.5 mag (comparsion tar TYC 7364-2287-1 ). Filtered images from FRAM this morning (average of best pictures). http://www.kommet.cz/datas/users/1220average_r_dbe_1.png http://www.kommet.cz/datas/users/1220average_v_dbe_1.png From comet-ml post #18950 by Gary Kronk: QUOTE These are very interesting images. Either the nucleus and bright tail ray have been merged during the processing of these images or the distinct nucleus has broke up...appearing like a bar. This latter description has been given before when nuclei have been reported to break up. From comet-ml post #18952: QUOTE This animation from Karl shows the comet fading in STEREO HI1A. A dust tail wedge is getting longer and broader, sits on top of original dust tail. There is a small recurring spike tail near and below the head that seems to be from a rotating nucleus. http://sungrazer.nrl.navy.mil/index.php?p=...18\_19.gif Where would all the new dust be coming from? There rate of new dust tail extension is occurring rapidly. Possible breakup starting? From comet-ml post # 18955 by Gary Kronk: QUOTE The sudden appearance of bright rays are not uncommon when it comes to a comet breaking up. Check out the following link on my Cometography web site that discusses comet C/1999 S4 (LINEAR):
http://cometography.com/lcomets/1999s4.html If you scroll down a bit, you will see two pictures from 1999 July 21, that show a bright tail ray. Within days the comet was unmistakably breaking up. By the way the link to my comet Lovejoy web page is as follows: http://cometography.com/lcomets/2011W3.html Sincerely, Gary |
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