Comet Loneos (c/2007)

[Waveform]

Just a quick note here for anyone interested.

Comet LONEOS (C/2007) is in the sky now. Although it is dim (magnitude around 8) it will aproach the sun closer. Infact the 29th of October will take it on it,s closest pass almost as close as the planet Mercury.

There is a good possibility it may brighten to naked eye visibility. Magnitudes may be in the 4 to 3 range, and who know's perhaps a bit brighter. Brightness of comets are difficult to predict and at times can be quite surprising.

Anyone with a small telescope or very good binoculars that want to try for it now, scan under the Big Dipper (Ursa Major) in the constellation of Coma Berenices. Or wait for the middle to the end of the month when it gets brighter.

[NEga]

i have been following this to a degree as well - waiting til later in the month to see if it brightens. i hope so since the n hemisphere got ripped off from that spectacular comet last year

also being near the big dipper is nice cos most people can find it, and its usually higher in the sky

[picassoscat]

Will it be visible with binoculars by the 29th??

[Waveform]

Will it be visible with binoculars by the 29th??[/b]

The 29th will bring it to it's closest approach to the sun. There is a chance it will be visible to the naked eye then. If not it should be quite visible with binoculars and small back yard telescopes.

Like I said comets tend to be unpredictable, they can give all the indications of brightening, then fizzle. Or they can look blah, then totally change and get very bright.

The sometimes they can really surprise you. As an example comet Encke got it's tail 'blown away' because of a disturbance on the Sun. The grew another one back.

Anyway, lets hope comet LONEOS brightens up at the end of the month to at least magnitude 3 or better.

[Tyler]

yes most definately I missed Mcnaught last year...I have a 4.5in reflector and will search for the comet, Now looking forward to the 29th!

Clear Skies

Thanks for the Info Waveform, I had no idea there was a comet coming close!

[aslkahuna]

I had a beautiful sunset (before and after view of McNaught last January and followed it in broad daylight for four days as it passed perihelion. But skies clouded over and I was never able to try toe the tainl extension after perihelion.

Steve

[Waveform]

Hey guys! I was talking to a friend today who had observed the comet with 15 X 70 binoculars. He mentioned it was bright, so I expect it is probably visible through 10 X 50.
A 4.5in reflector should certainly resolve it.

If anyone wants to try for it. Check the Western sky after sunset. Comet is to the left of the constellation Coma Berenices or the the right of the lower end of the constellation Bootes.

It will appear as a small nebulous patch and it has a greenish hue to it.
As the month goes on it will get brighter and easier to see.
If we are lucky it might even just make it to naked eye visibility.

[Frozen_Signal]

PS dont look too close to the sun .....LOL


thanks waveform...ill have my friend at the natural science center show me if wx permitting....