A Comet Splits in Two

[Whitters]

Space Weather News for April 22, 2006
http://spaceweather.com

COMET NEWS: Astronomers are now monitoring more than 30 fragments of dying comet 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 3, which is approaching Earth for a close encounter in mid-May. One of the brightest fragments, fragment B, is splitting in two in plain view of amateur astronomers using backyard telescopes.   Visit Spaceweather.com for pictures of the breakup, sky maps and more.

Take a look at this one

[Whitters]

He has even got the 15mag spiral, what a wonderful picture. Where have all our clear skies gone?

[Rick]

Wow! Great shot! Who took it?

[Mike]

Awesome !! Would like to know the location and equipment used for that

[JohnP]

Hi Mike, All,

Yes - the comet made a close approach to M57 a few nights ago - shame we were clouded out. Anyhow if you look at the image there is a webpage address from which you can get the following details...


 

  Object ................................... Comet 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 3
 Name .................................... meets the Ring Nebula (Messier 57)
 Date + Time .......................... May 8, 2006 / 0:00 - 3:00 UT
 Location ................................. Observatory Welzheim, near Stuttgart, Germany
 Optics .................................... 0.9 meter reflector @ f/6.7
 Tools ..................................... Lumicon Giant Easy Guider
 Medium ................................. SBIG STL 11000M with SBIG RGB filterset
 Exposure Time(s) ................... Comet:
Luminance: 20x 1 minute (2x2 Binning)
RGB color: 4x 1 minute (3x3 Binning) each color

Stars/Nebula:
RGB color: 5x 5 minutes (2x2 Binning) each color
 More Details ........................... Dark- and flatframe-corrected
 Mount .................................... -
 Guiding .................................. No guiding, but mount ran in 'Comet tracking mode' (star tracking for the background)
 Processing Details ................... MaxIm DL, PhotoShop,
 Notes ..................................... Co-Observer: Steffen Brückner

The galaxy IC 1296 (15.1 mag) is clearly visible between the comet head and the Ring Nebula.



Cheers,  John

[Mike]

Optics .................................... 0.9 meter reflector @ f/6.7
Medium ................................. SBIG STL 11000M with SBIG RGB filterset

No wonder it's so fantastic !!

LOL !!    

[JohnP]

Yep - I don't reckon you would class that image as 'Amateur...'

[Whitters]

HERE THEY COME: More than 60 fragments of dying comet 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 3 are racing toward Earth. There's no danger of a collision. At closest approach on May 12th through 16th, the mini-comets will be 6 million miles away.

That is close enough, however, for a marvelous view through backyard telescopes.  Many of the fragments are themselves crumbling, producing clouds of gas and dust mixed with boulder-sized debris. As some fragments fade, others brighten, surprising onlookers. It's an amazing display.

Visit http://spaceweather.com for sky maps, updates and images from around the world.

[Rick]

Oh for a nice handy really dark sky. It should be quite a sight.

[Tony G]

Hi
the garden session at Mike's tomorrow night is looking good for observing and maybe some nice images of the comet (i would be pleased just seeing it)

Tony G

[Mike]

According to metcheck and the Met Office, all we are going to be observing is the bottom of our wine (or cider) glasses.

[Whitters]

Mike,
Thanks again for a great evening

[Delphine]

I can't beleive it.  I have just come back from a cruise in the Norwegian Fjords and saw this enormous star in the east and have only just found out what it was.  If I had known I would have taken a piccy of it.  How frustrating!!!!!!!!

[Mike]

And now it's not visible till very early in the morning. It's moving fast ! Does anyone know if it will come around again in a few weeks/months ?

[Rick]

See http://forum.orpington-astronomy.org.uk/index.php/topic,1755.0.html