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Astronomy Picture of the Day -- Comet Lovejoy before a Globular Star Cluster
NASA ^
| December 31, 2014
| (see photo credit)
Posted on 12/31/2014 11:47:49 AM PST by SunkenCiv
Explanation: Comet Lovejoy has become visible to the unaided eye. To see the comet, just go outside an hour or so after sunset and look for a fuzzy patch to the right of Orion's belt. Binoculars and a star chart may help. Pictured here, Comet C/2014 Q2 (Lovejoy) was captured three days ago passing nearly in front of M79, the globular star cluster visible as the bright spot slightly above and to the left of the comet's green-hued coma. The nucleus of Comet Lovejoy is a giant dirty iceberg that is shedding gas into a long and intricate ion tail, extending across the image, as it nears the Sun. The comet is expected to become even easier to spot for northern observers during January, as it is rises earlier and, hopefully, continues to brighten.
(Excerpt) Read more at 129.164.179.22 ...
TOPICS: Astronomy; Astronomy Picture of the Day; Science
KEYWORDS: apod; astronomy; australia; c2014q2; comet; comet2014q2; cometlovejoy; greencomet; lovejoy; orion; science
[Credit & Copyright: Dieter Willasch (Astro-Cabinet) ]
1
posted on
12/31/2014 11:47:49 AM PST
by
SunkenCiv
To: brytlea; cripplecreek; decimon; bigheadfred; KoRn; Grammy; steelyourfaith; Mmogamer; dayglored; ...
2
posted on
12/31/2014 11:48:28 AM PST
by
SunkenCiv
(Imagine an imaginary menagerie manager imagining managing an imaginary menagerie.)
To: fanfan; Silentgypsy
Can be seen in the direction of Orion, somewhat below his feet.
3
posted on
12/31/2014 11:54:43 AM PST
by
Darksheare
(Those who support liberal "Republicans" summarily support every action by same.)
To: Darksheare
i’ve got to wait until the 6th to see it.
Does it look good?
4
posted on
12/31/2014 12:11:00 PM PST
by
moose07
(The Camels have reached Radiator Springs; Luigi knows what tyres they need.)
To: moose07
Had bad viewing conditions here, haven’t had a chance to eyeball it yet.
5
posted on
12/31/2014 12:16:57 PM PST
by
Darksheare
(Those who support liberal "Republicans" summarily support every action by same.)
To: moose07; fanfan; Silentgypsy; SunkenCiv
6
posted on
12/31/2014 12:23:51 PM PST
by
Darksheare
(Those who support liberal "Republicans" summarily support every action by same.)
To: Darksheare
7
posted on
12/31/2014 12:26:47 PM PST
by
SunkenCiv
(Imagine an imaginary menagerie manager imagining managing an imaginary menagerie.)
To: SunkenCiv
Welcome!
Had clouds or such every time I’ve had a chance to look for it.
:(
8
posted on
12/31/2014 12:29:05 PM PST
by
Darksheare
(Those who support liberal "Republicans" summarily support every action by same.)
To: SunkenCiv
9
posted on
12/31/2014 12:47:57 PM PST
by
misanthrope
(Liberalism; it is not unthinking ignorance, it is malignant evil.)
To: SunkenCiv
Finally! Not since Hale-Bopp will there be a nicely visible comet high in the Northern sky at a decent hour. It’ll be cold but for a Skywatcher...that’s small potatoes.
10
posted on
12/31/2014 12:54:08 PM PST
by
Bloody Sam Roberts
(Life and death are but temporary states. But Freedom endures forever.)
To: SunkenCiv
%%
I’m dreaming of a Green Comet,
Unlike the ones I used to know.
Among the stars that glisten
While SETI listens
To hear signals in the snow…
11
posted on
12/31/2014 1:35:40 PM PST
by
mikrofon
(Happy New Year! BUMP)
To: Darksheare
Been overcast here in Ga but it’s clear today
so maybe tonight. I live in the country so
there is a good chance of seeing it.
12
posted on
12/31/2014 1:37:45 PM PST
by
tet68
( " We would not die in that man's company, that fears his fellowship to die with us...." Henry V.)
To: Darksheare
Nice one ,Darks.
Have got the ‘Bins’ with me tonight.
It might just be above the horizon.
“...it’s in Lepus, the rabbit...”
It just had to be ,didn’t it. :)
13
posted on
12/31/2014 2:30:18 PM PST
by
moose07
(The Camels have reached Radiator Springs; Luigi knows what tyres they need.)
To: moose07
Yeah, I know.
Lol.
The sign of the rabbit.
14
posted on
12/31/2014 4:16:04 PM PST
by
Darksheare
(Those who support liberal "Republicans" summarily support every action by same.)
To: tet68
Clear night here too.
Just might go comet hunting myself.
Good luck to all!
15
posted on
12/31/2014 4:17:52 PM PST
by
Darksheare
(Those who support liberal "Republicans" summarily support every action by same.)
To: SunkenCiv
16
posted on
12/31/2014 5:33:09 PM PST
by
Dogbert41
(All the days of my life were written in your book before there was one of them!)
To: NoCmpromiz
17
posted on
12/31/2014 5:58:21 PM PST
by
Darksheare
(Those who support liberal "Republicans" summarily support every action by same.)
To: Darksheare
So has bpearphgrotch alerted us to this approaching cataclysm??... ;-)
Or will his ninefoot tall aliens deflect it?
(Of course it’s sarc, do I need to close the tag?)
18
posted on
12/31/2014 6:13:14 PM PST
by
NoCmpromiz
(John 14:6 is a non-pluralistic comment.)
To: NoCmpromiz
Who knows.
I haven’t seen him do a comet freakout in awhile.
His latest fad has been of the “coronal mass ejections and solar flares cause earthquakes” for some reason.
Plate tectonics be darned apparently.
19
posted on
12/31/2014 6:30:14 PM PST
by
Darksheare
(Those who support liberal "Republicans" summarily support every action by same.)
To: Darksheare
Socked in again tonight.
No luck.
20
posted on
01/01/2015 12:15:06 AM PST
by
tet68
( " We would not die in that man's company, that fears his fellowship to die with us...." Henry V.)
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