C/2008 A1

[Outbackmanyep]

Rob McNaught has racked up #40 with a newly discovered comet, C/2008 A1 McNaught will come to perihelion in November, 2008, and reach 9th Mag possibly and will be a southern hemisphere object.

Congrats again Rob!

:cheers:

[Jim G]

The preliminary orbit has it passing through the Southern Cross as it comes closest to Earth and reaches its brightest, so very appropriate for an Australian discovery.

[Outbackmanyep]

Its perihelion is early in the month too (Nov 3rd) , so no moon!?

Awesome!

[Rob_K]

New moon is Oct 29, OBMY, first quarter on 6 Nov. :thumbsup:

Cheers -

[Outbackmanyep]

Touch and go, but at any rate, it'd be an early morning stint so moon would be no problem, and good viewing for those further south! Interesting object!

[Jim G]

A couple of things to bear in mind. It is closest to the Earth mid September and never gets within the orbit of Mars so the date of perihelion in November may not be a big deal. In fact it will probably be fading by then. Also this orbit could change quite a bit yet.

[fringe_dweller]

hello, here's trouble! didnt know you were a member Jim!? first posts i see, :welcome: the aussie comet fraternity is growing on IIS, good to see :)

...and how about that Rob McNaught! eh eh! he's just getting warmed up, i think :)

[Outbackmanyep]

Ohhh, sorry Jim G, i didn't realise you was new!

Welcome to IIS! Glad you could join the comet chasers! :)

Cheers! :thumbsup:

[Jim G]

Just been lurking quietly in the background.

[fringe_dweller]

nothing wrong with lurking Jim, do a bit of it myself sometimes!
cheers

[Jim G]

Latest orbit changes things a bit, makes it a better object for us in September, perihelion now late that month.

[Outbackmanyep]

Thanks for the info Jim G, i think that still puts us out of the moons reach still......last quarter on the 22nd Sept...

[Jim G]

Magnitude looks pretty steady right through September, mid sevens, and nicely placed in the evening sky for us, at 34S anyway. A good binocular object.