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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Jan 5 2012, 03:51 PM
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Member Group: Members Posts: 723 Joined: 13-June 04 Member No.: 82 |
Comets-ml post #19210 by Michael Mattiazzo
QUOTE Hello all, I observed comet C/2011 W3 Lovejoy this morning near the vicinity of Castlemaine, Victoria. I have uploaded a photo taken 2012 Jan 4.69UT to my website: http://members.westnet.com.au/mmatti/sc.htm Approximately 10 degrees of tail was observed with the unaided eye using averted vision, extending just beyond Alpha Apus. The intensity has dropped off substantially since my last observation on Dec 30.71, and is now a very difficult naked eye target. Through 8x40mm Binoculars, the tail extends through to Beta Chameleonis for a total of 20 degrees. Photographically the tail length is about 30 degrees, passing near Beta Carinae. Interestingly the brightest section of tail now appears to be at the head of the comet, wheras previously it was some distance along the tail. I estimated the head section to be about magnitude 6.5 I could offer an explanation - the the head section is now closest to Earth, in a few days time. Comments are welcome. cheers, Michael Mattiazzo Castlemaine Vic. This report is quite different from the report by Ian Cooper just before it. I attribute the difference to the (presumably) much better sky conditions that Ian Cooper was under when he observed the comet. |
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Lo-Fi Version | Time is now: 6th June 2024 - 04:29 PM |
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