Cabine du Jardin deux: Comet ISON C/2012 S1

Friday, 25 October 2013

Comet ISON C/2012 S1

From the United Kingdom, Comet ISON C/2012 S1 is now visible
through large amateur telescopes in pre dawn skies

I'm getting very excited by the imminent arrival of the Comet ISON C/2012 S1. It is a one time only visitor to our Solar System, a member of the Kreutz Sungrazer family of comets travelling a paraboloidal path through the Universe. It will reach perihelion, closest approach to the Sun, on the 28th November 2013, which happens to be my birthday. If it survives its close encounter with the Sun it should reappear on the 29th of November in our skies as an evening object, hopefully sporting a wonderful tail.

My impression of what the Comet might look like in
early evening and after the 28th of November,
as viewed across the Waveney Marshes:

Comets are notoriously fickle and over the last year,expectations for this comet's apparent size and brightness have gone up and down more times than a tart's knickers.

I'm hoping that it puts on a magnificent display over the Christmas Season and remains visible in our skies well into the New Year.

Needless to say and weather permitting, I shall be hoping to image our celestial visitor and if I'm successful my photos will appear in a future Blog post.

See my blog post
http://george-artcabinedujardin.blogspot.co.uk/2013/11/first-light-comet-c2012-s1-ison.html

The weather in Suffolk does need to improve, lots of rain, too much wind and moonlight have prevented me getting out in the backyard with my scope. I'm getting astronomical withdrawal symptoms!

For the best actual image of Comet ISON taken in October 2013 by Adam Block/Mount Lemmon SkyCenter/University of Arizona using a 32 inch reflecting telescope (ooh what a big one - scope envy!), follow the link:

http://skycenter.arizona.edu/gallery/SolarSystems/ison_10082013