Disintegrating Comet

[Whitters]

Space Weather News for April 7, 2006
http://spaceweather.com

Dying comet 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 3 continues to break apart. Astronomers are tracking at least 20 fragments approaching Earth for a harmless but beautiful close encounter in May.

In particular, fragment B of the comet has brightened 15-fold since April 2nd. This signals a possible breakup of "73P-B" into even more fragments.  Amateur astronomers with backyard telescopes and CCD cameras can monitor the ongoing disintegration.  Visit Spaceweather.com for sky maps, images more information.

[Mike]

John has already managed to get an image ! Check out the astrophotography section.

[Rick]

Also, keep an eye on Jonathan Shanklin's comet information page at http://www.ast.cam.ac.uk/~jds