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Science

TrogL

(32,822 posts) Thu Feb 28, 2013, 12:15 PM Feb 2013

So whatever happened to Comet 2012 L4?

Back in December it was big news, was going to be one of the comets of the century, it's supposed to be at its brightest tomorrow and I haven't heard a single thing.

I found one star map here (http://www.aerith.net/comet/catalog/2011L4/2011L4.html) that shows it but I don't recognize ANY of those constellation names. Whatever happened to Ursa Major and Orion?

14 replies

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So whatever happened to Comet 2012 L4? (Original Post) TrogL Feb 2013 OP

So whatever happened to Comet 2012 L4? Flashmann Feb 2013 #1

I think I'm getting my comets confused TrogL Feb 2013 #2

Looks like March 10th. Lint Head Feb 2013 #3

Kewl! I went to school with Peter Jedicke (mentioned in the article) TrogL Feb 2013 #7

I think the "biggie of the century" is coming in Nov/ Dec and this was a maybe good one... bettyellen Feb 2013 #4

Yep, that's ISON ... eppur_se_muova Feb 2013 #5

Tks I'm excited about that one! bettyellen Feb 2013 #8

That's 2011 L4 ... eppur_se_muova Feb 2013 #6

The constellation names are abbreviated lastlib Feb 2013 #9

And the first chart is Southern Hemisphere -- comet visible 'upstairs' in early March. nt eppur_se_muova Feb 2013 #10

OK, no wonder I didn't recognize anything. TrogL Feb 2013 #12

I think that is PanSTARRS - in the S Hemi now, will be visible here soon, not as bright as expected. NRaleighLiberal Feb 2013 #11

I took the kids to a farm in the middle of nowhere near Redwater to see Hyakutake TrogL Feb 2013 #13

yes, that was a great one, as was Hale-Bopp. Nothing like a bright comet! NRaleighLiberal Feb 2013 #14

Flashmann

(2,140 posts)

1. So whatever happened to Comet 2012 L4?

Reply to TrogL (Original post)

Thu Feb 28, 2013, 12:21 PM

Feb 2013

Gop cut its funding?.....

TrogL

(32,822 posts)

2. I think I'm getting my comets confused

Reply to TrogL (Original post)

Thu Feb 28, 2013, 12:28 PM

Feb 2013

I'm talking to the biggie which the news articles are calling 2014 L4 (PanSTARRS), but I believe comets are named in their year of discovery, which would make it 2011 L4 which is what the link says, but doesn't say on the linked page.

Lint Head

(15,064 posts)

3. Looks like March 10th.

Reply to TrogL (Original post)

Thu Feb 28, 2013, 12:32 PM

Feb 2013

This comet will become visible to the naked eye for observers in the Southern Hemisphere in early February in the morning sky. It will be at its brightest on March 10, when it will pass close to the sun and move into the evening sky, becoming visible to observers in the Northern Hemisphere. Look for it just above and to the left of the setting sun. http://www.space.com/19408-bright-comets-approaching-2013.html

TrogL

(32,822 posts)

7. Kewl! I went to school with Peter Jedicke (mentioned in the article)

Reply to Lint Head (Reply #3)

Thu Feb 28, 2013, 01:05 PM

Feb 2013

He built his own telescope in high school. The thing was huge.

bettyellen

(47,209 posts)

4. I think the "biggie of the century" is coming in Nov/ Dec and this was a maybe good one...

Reply to TrogL (Original post)

Thu Feb 28, 2013, 12:33 PM

Feb 2013

I was watching reports from NZ at first sightings and there was speculation this one wasn't going to be as good as they hoped.
But the one coming in Nov/ Dec has been getting a lot of buzz. Can;t wait!

eppur_se_muova

(36,269 posts)

5. Yep, that's ISON ...

Reply to bettyellen (Reply #4)

Thu Feb 28, 2013, 12:56 PM

Feb 2013

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C/2012_S1

bettyellen

(47,209 posts)

8. Tks I'm excited about that one!

Reply to eppur_se_muova (Reply #5)

Thu Feb 28, 2013, 01:21 PM

Feb 2013

eppur_se_muova

(36,269 posts)

6. That's 2011 L4 ...

Reply to TrogL (Original post)

Thu Feb 28, 2013, 01:02 PM

Feb 2013

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C/2011_L4

Throughout all of this, those of you below the equator will have the comet to yourselves. But it should finally burst on the scene for northern skygazers about March 10th — right at perihelion — again favoring those of you at low latitudes (Costa Rica, anyone?). Unfortunately, when brightest, C/2011 L4 will appear only 15° from the Sun.

So will you be able to spot it using just your eyeballs? Opinions vary. For sure you'll need a vantage with an unobstructed view toward west. According to comet chronicler Gary Kronk, "It could be a challenge to see with the naked eye, although observations using binoculars and telescopes will certainly be possible." Long-time observer John Bortle agrees: "At the moment I don't see Comet Pan-STARRS becoming strikingly evident in the evening twilight for the great majority of observers."

http://www.skyandtelescope.com/community/skyblog/observingblog/Comet-PanSTARRS-Still-on-Track-147166535.html

http://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/horizons.cgi?find_body=1&body_group=sb&sstr=C/2011_L4
Click on the button to get RA and dec for various dates. Note that you can change the dates covered, and even set the interval in hr and min

lastlib

(23,248 posts)

9. The constellation names are abbreviated

Reply to TrogL (Original post)

Thu Feb 28, 2013, 01:22 PM

Feb 2013

Aqr - Aquarius
Cap - Capricorn
Sgr - Sagitarius
Sco - Scorpio
Lib - Libra
Oph - Ophiucus
Psc - Pisces
Cas - Cassiopeia
Cep - Cepheus
Dra - Draco
Boo - Bootes
Per - Perseus
Cyg - Cygnus
Lyr - Lyra
Peg - Pegasus
.....
that help?

eppur_se_muova

(36,269 posts)

10. And the first chart is Southern Hemisphere -- comet visible 'upstairs' in early March. nt

Reply to lastlib (Reply #9)

Thu Feb 28, 2013, 01:41 PM

Feb 2013

TrogL

(32,822 posts)

12. OK, no wonder I didn't recognize anything.

Reply to eppur_se_muova (Reply #10)

Thu Feb 28, 2013, 01:54 PM

Feb 2013

I looked at the sky last night 'cause it was clear and knew where Orion should be.

NRaleighLiberal

(60,015 posts)

11. I think that is PanSTARRS - in the S Hemi now, will be visible here soon, not as bright as expected.

Reply to TrogL (Original post)

Thu Feb 28, 2013, 01:43 PM

Feb 2013

It is also going to be very low in the sky at sunset, so not an easy spot.

http://www.aerith.net/comet/weekly/current.html

Much brighter one later in the year, ISON.

Check the link - good list of all comets visible at the moment and their brightness estimates (magnitude 6 is faintest star seen in a dark sky with the naked eye - brightest star, Sirius, is magnitude -1.42, Big Dipper stars are around magnitude 2-2.5.

TrogL

(32,822 posts)

13. I took the kids to a farm in the middle of nowhere near Redwater to see Hyakutake

Reply to NRaleighLiberal (Reply #11)

Thu Feb 28, 2013, 01:59 PM

Feb 2013

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comet_Hyakutake

Filled the entire sky. Was able to confirm some of the flickering and changes in colour others had noticed.

NRaleighLiberal

(60,015 posts)

14. yes, that was a great one, as was Hale-Bopp. Nothing like a bright comet!

Reply to TrogL (Reply #13)

Thu Feb 28, 2013, 02:00 PM

Feb 2013

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