Click photo's for bigger image .
Comet Kushida - Constellation Taurus
Comet Lulin - Constellation Libra
Comet 144P/Kushida
While the guy from SideWalk Universe is waiting for the clouds to clear to view comet lulin ,the rest of us can catch the next one coming towards the sun.
Comet Kushida
on 23 January 2009 at 21h25 (UTM+2)
on 23 January 2009 at 21h25 (UTM+2)
Comet Kushida
on 23 January 2009 at 21h55 (UTM+2)
These two photo's were taken 30 minutes apart with a Takahashi E180 and Canon 40D. The movement of the Comet against the starry background can be noticed.
Comet 144P/Kushida is currently in the constellation Taurus and is visible from early evening. It is currently at magnitude 8.8 and is expected to brighten towards the end of January. It reaches perihelion on January 26.
Yoshio Kushida (Yatsugatake South Base Observatory, Japan) discovered this comet on Technical Pan 6415 patrol film shot with a 0.10-m f/4.0 telescope on 1994 January 8.81
i will have more info on this comet later but for now check out what Gary Kronk has .
Comet Lulin Photo's From SkyWatchers
Cheryl, a regular reader of NiteskyGirl Sent this link to my email box where you can see people's photo's of the comet. Thank you Cheryl ! I'm searching for a picture of it's double tail Beautiful shots taken so far, if you take the pictures and invert them you can see more traces of gas as they burn off from the sun's heat. Astronomers study what invisible matter is around Galaxies the same way ! For Example Let's do comet Lulin :
Markk K sent this in saying: Here you will find a growing collection of links for those interested in C/2007 N3 (Lulin)COMET LULIN LATEST ALERT !
It is still sporting a double tail which is getting quite visibly apparent. Now the latest is here about how the approaching comet can be seen with a moderate sized telescope. This photo is from the archives of my observatory .I am waiting to receive the latest from my sources at the Space Watch Program located in Arizona. If you have taken any of the double tail please email please send it in! Or if you've observed Comet Lulin please share! More as this progresses to inch it's way towards the Earth. Oh isn't this so exciting !! I just can not wait to get my telescope onto this comet !! Also I have been emailed the projected path through the constellations during it's stay in our night skies from february till the end of March .
Comet Lulin Heading Our way For A Great Sky Show
I'm working on all the info for you but for now here's a sneaky peak. We are in for a treat next month as Comet Lulin is moving closer to Earth and will be visible to the naked eye. visible but not unless you have a telescope for now. Comet Lulin is actually moving in the opposite direction of the planets! Lulin, discovered in 2007, is swinging around the sun and approaching us. By late February it should be visible to the naked eye. This image, taken by an observatory in Malaysia, shows both the comet's tail and anti-tail (tail pointing toward the sun) click on photo for a closer look. comet Lulin is expected to brighten to naked-eye visibility, reaching a magnitude of six.The comet is at present moving between the constellations Scorpio and Libra. Lulin is expected to head towards Leo at an accelerated pace late next month. The comet will pass 0.41 Astronomical Units from earth and reach its closest distance to Earth on February 24, about 14.5 times the distance between the Earth and the Moon. Lulin will be observable low in the sky in an east-southeast direction before dawn.On the night of February 23rd, near its peak brightness, Comet Lulin is passing 2° south-southwest of Saturn.Lulin’s closest approach to Earth, 0.41 a.u. (61 million km), occurs on February 24th, when the comet may reach a peak of magnitude 5.The discovery of Comet Lulin (C/2227 N3) was part of a major achievement made by the Lulin Sky Survey project to explore the various populations of small bodies in the solar system, especially objects that are a threat to Earth.So far Lulin is not. Okay as I I told you in my about me section I do comet tracking as a part of my astronomers job so I'm getting more info . On the 5th of February it should be easily seen in binoculars. It may even become detectable with the unaided eye in a dark, moonless sky. And here are printable maps to find the comet Jan. 1 – Feb. 14 - Feb. 13 – Mar. 2 - Mar. 1 – Mar. 20 - Mar. 14 – May 1 As of January 7th Lulin did have an antitail, as shown in this image taken by Karzaman Ahmad in Malaysia with a 20-inch scope . Here's another image, from Ernesto Guido, Giovanni Sostero and Paul Camilleri, taken January 8th. Here's a photo gallery of more.
Here Are the orbital dynamics and and here's an ephemeris
I will be posting sky-maps and observing info for everyone. Eevn though it's just a telescopic comet now, if observe the comet send in your observations or pictured you take ,i'll add it here for everyone to see and share.
Current Position Of Comet Lulin (C/2007 N3)
New Comet Lulin Easy to Spot this Winter. Three posts below you will find all the info needed on this approaching comet.Here is a sky map of where it currently is. I have had quite a bit of emails asking for a map and directions so I went into my astronomy software and created a map . Lulin will appear in your local sky when it rises around 3:50 am and will look best at 8:40 am. click the map for a bigger image to print out . Let me know if you have found it and please provide some observing tips for locating and looking at the comet and if you used binoculars or a telescope. I'll be heading outside tonight to view it.
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