Bright comet apparition

[OzEclipse]

Comet Wirtanen is making a very close pass to Earth around perihelion.
I have prepared a preview : -
http://joe-cali.com/astronomy/observation/wirtanen_2018/INDEX.html

Joe

[Kunama]

Excellent, thanks Joe. Looking forward to chasing this one.

[mental4astro]

Excellent work Joe! Thanks mate for the post :) Real shame about its December timing with the Moon as it splits the Hyades and Pleiades!

Alex.

[Derek Klepp]

Thanks Joe I look forward to viewing this.I wall also have a go at imaging it with the DSLR and various lenses.

[rrussell1962]

Sky Safari gives mag 9.4 at the moment so well within reach. I may have a look tonight - will be fun to follow over the coming months.

[Lee]

Excellent - and it looks to be in reach of my obs scope, if I ever get everything back together in there!

[OzEclipse]

Most recent observational estimates put the comet at around mag. 11.

Joe

[mozzie]

Thanks Joe
Will chase this one over the next few weeks..
Love chasing these fuzzies

[ChrisM]

Thanks for the info Joe - you've done a great job!

Cheers, Chris

[glend]

I did some imaging of Wirtanen tonight, just luminance with my TS115 APO. It was lurking near the Double Star HR576, and there were a couple of faint background galaxies keeping it company, IC1760 being one at mag 13,9.
Attached is a quick grainy crop in low quality jpg. This one is abit better:


https://www.astrobin.com/374457/

[gaa_ian]

That’s a great in depth analysis of comet Wirtanen Joe :thumbsup:
I will certainly be using your finder charts.

[mozzie]

Spent the last hour under perfect skies with my 9x63 Binos observing this bright fuzzy comet...
Has a nice bright nucleus and very very easy to see in the sky but I was unable to see any hint of a tail if your interested in seeing a comet knows the time you won’t be disappointed may get my dobbie out next weekend for a closer look

[Wavytone]

Saw it last night in the MK91, just a fuzzball no tail visible.