Friday, November 29, 2013

ISON Lives, Sort of

Comet ISON survived its trip around the sun, although not without damage. The nucleus appears to have been fragmented and shedding debris at a much higher rate. It should stay intact long enough to have a nice observation of it in December. Hopefully it doesn't break up early and send any rocks our way.


Wednesday, November 27, 2013

Incoming

Comet ISON is now visible on the sun viewing satellites. This image is from the SOHO LASCO C3:

More impressive images should be coming available soon as the comet continues to approach the sun.

Tuesday, November 26, 2013

Watching ISON

On Thursday, right around 1pm EST, Comet ISON will be at it's closest point to the sun (perihelion). NASA is in the process of moving their sun observation satellites so that all of them will be watching the comet as it goes around. They have also set up a site where the images from the various satellites can be observed. Even if the comet breaks up and is destroyed, it should make for a very impressive show as this comet is currently producing a huge coma with a tail nearly 10 million miles long.

If we're lucky, the comet will survive the trip around the sun and it should make for some very impressive sky watching around Christmas time.

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Comet ISON

Comet ISON is now nine days away from perihelion. Supposedly it will be visible to the naked eye starting tomorrow. If it survives perihelion, it should be very visible as it swings back out past us in December and January.

But, in case it doesn't survive, here's a really cool pic captured of ISON as it approaches the sun:


Monday, November 11, 2013