Comet C/2022 E3 ?

[Nicos]

I wonder if any of us will be lucky enough to see it over the next few days?

https://www.theguardian.com/science/...box=1674544858

We need some more clear night skies!

[smallblueplanet]

I wonder if any of us will be lucky enough to see it over the next few days?

https://www.theguardian.com/science/...box=1674544858

We need some more clear night skies!

Since mid-January, the comet has been easier to spot with a telescope or binoculars. It is visible in the northern hemisphere, clouds permitting, as the sky darkens in the evening, below and to the left of the handle of the Plough constellation.

It is heading for a fly-by of the pole star, the brightest star in Ursa Minor, next week.

The window for spotting the comet does not stay open long. While the best views may be had about 1 and 2 February, by the middle of the month the comet will have dimmed again and slipped from view as it hurtles back out into the solar system on its return trip to the Oort cloud.

Cool. Now I've just got to find the Plough!

[smallblueplanet]

This link shows what it might look like to the naked eye. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap230121.html

[Snoop Puss]

Cool. Now I've just got to find the Plough!

Depending on your phone, you might be able to use an app like Sky Map to locate it. Your phone needs to have GPS, a gyroscope and a magnetometer (a sensor that allows your phone to act as a compass). Between them, they let your phone know where you are, respond to tilt and movement and know what direction it's pointing in. Sadly, not all phones have these, but you may be in luck.

[smallblueplanet]

Depending on your phone, you might be able to use an app like Sky Map to locate it. Your phone needs to have GPS, a gyroscope and a magnetometer (a sensor that allows your phone to act as a compass). Between them, they let your phone know where you are, respond to tilt and movement and know what direction it's pointing in. Sadly, not all phones have these, but you may be in luck.

Not sure my phone has gps, etc. But I do know what the Plough looks like and don't live in town where apparently (in an article my OH read and told me about) now they can only see about 50 stars!

[mothhawk]

The stellarium star map will show you exactly where the comet is at any given time -

https://stellarium-web.org/

[smallblueplanet]

The stellarium star map will show you exactly where the comet is at any given time -

https://stellarium-web.org/

Oooh that looks mega. How easy is it to use? Do I download it to my (android) phone - currently on a laptop?

[Nicos]

Nice link there MH…thanks for that!

I can see it quite a bit below the North Star on my iPad without downloading it SPB

[smallblueplanet]

I was thinking I could take my phone outside (although it's bloody cold!) and look around. We're fortunate in that we can see a good quantity of stars and stuff. But except for things like Orion's Belt and the Plough I can't recognise much in the sky.

[rary]

Was is easy to see the last time it passed Nicos, I don't suppose there would be the same problems from light pollution when you were younger

[Nicos]

Funnily enough Rary , I was only just thinking that if it’s cloudy then I’ll have to wait until the next one

I wonder what the Neanderthals thought of it? Probably cloudy then too

[Jay22]

Oh I’m excited about this. Hopefully catch sight of it over the weekend. The Stellarium is a good app, MH, had it on my phone for ages!

[Penellype]

The comet is most likely to be visible to the naked eye on 1st and 2nd February, although realistically it will probably not look like much more than a fuzzy smudge. You are more likely to see it with binoculars or a telescope.

It should be reasonably easy to find - face north and look for the plough (big dipper, or great bear). There is a useful video here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zP0-AoTccPg which helps identify the nearby constellations.

This diagram shows the position of the comet on various dates



11pm central time is 5am GMT, but it gives a good idea of where it will be relative to the stars.

[Snoop Puss]

Thanks, Penellype. You've encouraged me to make more of an effort to go out. Might drive up to a high spot looking north rather than walk, mind.

[Nicos]

So far we’ve had cloud each time I’ve gone to look.