2013: The Year of the Comets - PanSTARRS fading ISON up next

[SurfnSnowboard]

Next year could be a spectacular one for comets with PANSTARRS leading off the year and peaking around +1 to -4 apparent magnitude and then ISON showing up in December. It's too early to be sure (I think we're more than 8 daze out LOL) but Comet ISON could become a Great Comet visible during the day and possibly as bright as the full moon. Or at least it has that potential. There's talk of Comet ISON becoming a "Once in a Civilization" comet. Hopefully it's not just hype.

Wikipedia pages:

Comet PANSTARRS

Comet ISON

Recent update on Comet ISON:
http://astrobob.areavoices.com/2012/09/ ... fall-2013/

If you want to stay updated just Like this page on Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/CometPanstarrs

[SurfnSnowboard]

Here's a story with images on what we can expect to see in March 2013:

http://waitingforison.wordpress.com/comet-panstarrs/

[cheapski]

At the same time the history of tail development for past very bright sungrazing and sun-skimming comets indicates that maximum visual tail length usually occurs
when the nucleus is between 0.8 and 1.0 AU from the Sun if projection circumstances are reasonably favorable.

For comet 2012 S1 this should occur late in December with the comet circumpolar from higher Northern Hemisphere latitudes and with the comet’s nucleus nearest Earth. The waxing December moon will pose a problem in the evening sky from about the 7th until a few days past its full phase on December 22. I hesitate to make mention of the fact, recalling events surrounding Comet Cunningham in 1940 and Comet Kohoutek in 1973, but night of comet 2012 S1 most spectacular visual display could well be December 24th or 25th 2013.
J.Bortle

Ooh.

[SurfnSnowboard]

^^^ I can only imagine how many crazy religious rumors that would spark!

[SurfnSnowboard]

From NewScientist.com:

Doomsayers disappointed by 2012's non-apocalypse will get a sop in 2013 in the form of a rare supercomet. Once widely seen as a portent of doom, comets are seldom as spectacular as the new arrival, known as C/2012 S1 (ISON), may be. At its peak it may outshine the moon, even by day.
http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg2 ... -moon.html

Another report on Comet PANSTARRS indicated it could be magnitude 0 when it becomes visible in the northern hemisphere in March.

[SurfnSnowboard]

2013 could be the best year for comet spotting in generations

A comet set to pass by the Earth could be the brightest in memory, and it's not the only one coming for a visit next year.

The moon could have some serious competition in 2013.

No, we're not finally building a real Death Star, no matter how much the American people demand one. I'm talking about a surprise visit from a recently discovered heavenly body known as the comet Ison. The chunk of ice and rock has likely broken free from the Oort cloud and is heading our way right now. If it survives the journey, astronomers say it could become even brighter than our lunar neighbor in the night sky as it makes a pass through our neighborhood next fall.

According to NASA, the wayward comet is currently hurtling toward the sun somewhere in the vicinity of Jupiter's orbit. By October, it should come very near Mars, possibly allowing NASA's rovers a view as it shakes its tail in their direction. From there, it appears it will continue toward the center of the solar system, passing within a single solar diameter of the sun's surface before heading back more or less the way it came.

Whatever survives the long journey will pass nearest the earth in December 2013. Astronomers say Comet Ison's path is similar to one that passed by earth in 1680 with a tail so bright that it could allegedly be seen in daylight.

"Comet Ison could draw millions out into the dark to witness what could be the brightest comet seen in many generations - brighter even than the full Moon," wrote astronomer David Whitehouse in the Independent.

Of course, Ison could also flame out early.
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-575 ... nerations/

[windyscotty]

This signals the birth of the anti-Christ. How is that for a religious rumor? A star signaled the birth of Yeshua, and this will signal the birth of the Angel of Light. He is really the angel of darkness.

[SurfnSnowboard]

Latest story about ISON and its potential as "Comet of the Century".

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/50579678/ns ... nce-space/

This story notes that Comet ISON is possibly twice as large as Comet Lovejoy and will not get quite as close to the sun as Lovejoy. That's significant because Lovejoy was a spectacular comet in the southern hemisphere.

[SurfnSnowboard]

Looks like Comet PANSTARRS might be a disappointing mag. 3 at it's brightest which would mean you'd need binoculars to see it in the glare of the sun.

http://www.skyandtelescope.com/observin ... 30541.html

[SurfnSnowboard]

Comet PANSTARRS is just becoming visible in the southern hemisphere:



http://astrobob.areavoices.com/2013/02/ ... good-news/

It will be visible for us in a few weeks.

[Spirit Tree]

Thanks for update. before you know it March will be here..
Did you see Jupiter & Moon this evening? Pretty cool.

[2NAKLLR]

^Hard to miss unless you weren't looking at all. Marine layer probably will obscure till about Wednesday.

[SurfnSnowboard]

New pics and latest information on PANSTARRS

http://cosmiclog.nbcnews.com/_news/2013 ... g-act?lite



Should be visible for us in the NH in just a few more weeks!

[Snowave]

very cool timelapse of the 2 comets.. and an aurora down under.

http://vimeo.com/59571509

[SurfnSnowboard]

very cool timelapse of the 2 comets.. and an aurora down under.

http://vimeo.com/59571509

Wow that was absolutely spectacular, thanks for sharing it!