Saturday, November 16, 2013

More on Comet ISON


Falling through planet Earth's predawn skies toward its close encounter with the Sun on November 28, Comet ISON is coming to life. The much anticipated comet has now been reported to have substantially increased in brightness, surging to naked-eye visibility for dark sites and sprouting a more complex tail. ISON's tail stretches over two degrees in this telephoto skyview from southern Kenya, captured on the morning of November 15. Shown in two panels, the enlarged negative version on the right makes details of the long tail easier to trace, including the tail's separated filaments toward the top of the frame. A sungrazer and first time visitor to the inner solar system, the possibility of ISON's survival to become a bright comet in planet Earth's December skies remains a question.

Via APOD

I got up early and went outside to see if I could spot the comet, but there is too much stuff on the eastern horizon for that here at the house.  Good view of Leo, and Mars, however.  I gathered some wood in the dark and built a fire in the fireplace, since I was already up.  Strong coffee, the internet, and  a chuckling fire in a quiet house are pretty nice, even if I couldn't see the comet.

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