New Images of Comet ISON Hurtling Towards the Sun

Universe Today ^ | 30 May, 2013 | Nancy Atkinson

[Errant]

As Comet C/2012 S1 (ISON) heads closer to Earth, we’re getting a better view of what has been billed by some as the “Comet of the Century.” Astronomers say these new photos from the Gemini North telescope on Mauna Kea, Hawai‘i provide hints of how well this comet might survive one of the closest comet encounters with the Sun ever recorded, on November 28, 2013.

With astronomy enthusiasts hopeful and optimistic about having a spectacular comet visible in our skies, it’s anyone’s guess if the comet will actually survive its extremely close pass of the Sun to become early morning eye-candy in early December 2013. The time-sequence images, spanning early February through May 2013, show that the comet is quite active, despite how distant it is from the Sun.

[Errant]

I have a feeling this comet is going to be awesome!

[cripplecreek]

I’m hoping so.

[Parley Baer]

“I have a feeling this comet is going to be awesome”

I sure hope so.

[laplata]

Yes, it should be.

[JRandomFreeper]

A comet in the sky is a bad omen. Plagues, bankers, lawyers, boils, dogs and catz sleeping together kind of bad.

The only rational thing to do is burn a witch at the stake.

/johnny

[Black Agnes]

Let’s hope it doesn’t turn into Hamner-Brown.

[RayChuang88]

Or it could be an astronomical “bust” like Comet Kohoutek in late 1973. Here’s the problem: new observations show the comet to be very small physically in size, and its physically small size means even as the comet approaches perihelion, it will be quite faint. It wasn’t like Comet Hale-Bopp in 1997, which was one of the brightest comets ever seen from Earth (Hale-Bopp was easily visible to the naked eye at night).

[JRandomFreeper]

If it does, I'll have to buy a surf-board.

/johnny

[Black Agnes]

Just hope there aren’t any 30 story apartment buildings in your way.

[cripplecreek]

The only rational thing to do is burn a witch at the stake.

Where is Hillary Clinton anyway?

[JRandomFreeper]

Floating. The water rejected her.

/johnny

[pankot]

You can’t do that: She is going to be President in 2016.

[stickywillie]

i’d like to offer up the hildebeaste as a sacrifice, for the appeasement of the comet gods. butt, when the fire hits that *ss, she’ll splatter like swine.

[Nowhere Man]

Or it could be an astronomical “bust” like Comet Kohoutek in late 1973. Here’s the problem: new observations show the comet to be very small physically in size, and its physically small size means even as the comet approaches perihelion, it will be quite faint. It wasn’t like Comet Hale-Bopp in 1997, which was one of the brightest comets ever seen from Earth (Hale-Bopp was easily visible to the naked eye at night).

I remember Hale-Bopp too. I remember Mom and I looking at it when it became bright. Even at 125 million miles away, it was quite a sight.

[bigheadfred]

You can’t do that: She is going to be President in 2016.

she makes it for potus wont need no go**amn comet excuse to burn the witch

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks Errant. Extra to APoD members.

[Errant]

Comet Lovejoy (pictured above and in article linked below) had a nucleus of around 0.5 km. Comet ISON’s nucleus is estimated to be around 5km, or just a bit smaller than Halley’s Comet. This is 10 times the size of Comet Lovejoy, and Lovejoy was one of the brightest comets in many years for the section of the world. It was dubbed “The Great Christmas Comet of 2011″.

Comet ISON may try to rival that of Comet Hyakutake and Hale-Bopp, both in the later 1990s. Most teens today did not see those great comets, but ISON may give them a chance to see something we adults saw then.

Comet ISON is between the orbit of Jupiter and Mars, closing in fast. ISON may become brighter than the Full Moon as it nears the Sun at the end of this year. It will remain a bright comet for months to come before and after the passage around the Sun.

Astronomers are worried the comet could break-up before coming into the inner solar system. However, Comet Lovejoy was 10 times smaller and survived the trip around the Sun. So this should be a cakewalk for Comet ISON and a treat for observers around the globe.

Comet ISON Nucleus Larger Than Thought

[vortigern]

I took pictures of Kohoutek out of my bedroom window. It was also naked-eye object and maybe didn’t live up to its hype, but it was still a wonder to behold.

[Errant]

A comet in the sky is a bad omen.

This one will be followed by two blood moons in '14 & two more in '15.
All of which occur on the same two major Jewish feasts days. The final
blood moon will be seen over Israel, prior to sunrise.

[dangus]

One of the brightest comets ever seen from Earth? Hell, you had know exactly what you were looking for to find it. What a boring dud: a fuzzy dot.