Levy (P/2006 T1) Comet

[Crossy2010]

This is an extremely early posting, as the comet is about 590 million km away, but it is going to be a mere 8 million km away on January 7th of next year. Considering that Hale-Bop was 190 million km away from earth at its closest, I can only imagine that this should be a pretty good opportunity to get a relatively close up view with a comet.

[Moonshane]

Cool. Thanks for the heads up. I love comets.

[Hypernova]

Thanks for the heads up as well, I wonder how bright this comet will get in comparison to ones that have gone before?

[Beardy Bob]

Bring it on! I want to image one, but keep missing them.

[Vega]

Are there any magnitude estimates for closest approach yet?

Matt

[russ]

I hope they don't over hype or over estimate the brightness like normal. Comets are notorious disappointments. What ever is estimated, best to take a few magnitudes off to avoid an anti-climax.

[Crossy2010]

It is showing a magnitude of 4.28 at its closest. And it will be a near full moon as well.

[russ]

Probably best to hope it makes mag 6-7, anything more a bonus.

[Nexus 6]

I for one hope it turns out to be a surprise and is a great sight, mind you I have never seen one yet although I am aware of some that can be seen on occasion through the ep but to see something of the scale of Hale-Bopp or Hyakutake would be fantastic!

Clear Skies

[wcgucfa]

I'm going for T1 Levy soon, now that the Moon

is out of the way. The last time I checked it was

around magnitude 9.6 (quote=comp. program). It may be

difficult, being at the zenith.

I may have to put on my 'never used' mount extender.

Its been cloudy for nights on end here in New England

with sporadic clearing at inopportune times. The week-

end promises some hope.

I haven't found any other posts on this yet, just hooked

on to the first one I spotted.

Bill- 11/22/11

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

Thanks for that, I will keep an eye out.

[wcgucfa]

Hey, Michael!

I'm getting excited about this one! I've ripped the

10" DOB from its mount to attach a dovetail on

it so it will hook up to the EQG mount. Weight may be

an issue. I'll get it to work, though.

My plan is to burn the candle at both ends this weekend:

T1 in the evening and back to SN 2011fe in the wee hours

of the morning!

Bill - 11/23/11

[andrew63]

I remember Hale-Bop well. Was a glorious sight for months - I think reaching about mag. -1 so I'd be surprised if it reached anywhere near that - but you never know...

andrew

[AlwaysGoodskies]

I have always wanted to see a comet through a scope. When Hale-Bob happened i was in 5th grade but i remember it vaguely. must see one again!

[Moonshane]

I think you can still see comet Garradd? Just near Hercules last time I looked.

[wcgucfa]

Here's an image of Comet Holmes with a point and

shoot camera.

This snowball was right out of science fiction and

changed detail every night!!

Yes, Garradd is still bright in Hercules. Easily seen in

a scope and binoculars. Try to see it before it gets too

low in the west. It will be moving to the morning sky.

Bill

Afocal image through Orion 120mm refractor

at 25x magnification. Sorry for the size; it wouldn't

reduce!

[wcgucfa]

Ah, I found a slide of Hale-Bopp taken from

my old, very light polluted neighborhood. I

wasn't imaging through a scope back then

(digital cameras changed that!).

This too was a great comet. The view through

a small scope looked like an 1800's detail drawing!

Quite amazing!

Bill

Camera on small tripod. 15s exposure. f/2.0.

Minolta SRT 101.

[andrew63]

I like the shot over the rooftops - it's a classic comet image we all imagine.

andrew

[wcgucfa]

I really love the mystery of comets! Back in 1996 I could

only capture the bright ones. If I needed a scope, or a longer

exposure than 15 seconds, forget it!

Here's Hyakutake over Seagrave Observatory in N. Scituate

Rhode Island, USA, when it zoomed through Ursa Minor.

I'm hoping 2012 is even better for comet viewers than 2011,

which, I have to admit, wasn't bad at all!

Bill - 11/24/11

[iamjulian]

Have a look at cometchasing.skyhound.com he's having a rant about this Levy 1 comet. Seems to suggest everyone is using old data and this thing isn't worth looking for at the moment. Glad I saw this as I was going to look for it tonight. Shall save myself some fruitless searching if it's only mag 20.

[wcgucfa]

I imaged the field it was supposed to be in on the 26th, only

to find absolutely nothing!

I saw the Skyhound post after this and realized there was

nothing to be found.

I'm putting it in the "disintegrated" list with Elenin until further

revelation.

Bill

[iamjulian]

Is this one definitely a no show, does anyone know? Astronomy Now have plotted it in the last two editions as being quite bright.

[Hypernova]

I read somewhere that at the last perihelion the comet was in outburst and is not expected to exceed 17th magnitude this apparition.

[BinocularSky]

It was recovered a couple of weeks ago at mag 19.8. It's been re-designated 2011 Y1. Slightly more info in the "transient objects" bit of my web site (URL in sig).

[Spica]

Heavens-above lists it as 8th mag. Also planned to give it a shot the other night, but it got clouded over. I swore and cursed, only to find out here and now you'll need huge 'scope to see it.