C/2011 W3 (Lovejoy)

[Leonid Elenin]

Terry, congrats with new brilliant finding! Very interesting comet! :thumbsup:

[Rob_K]

Congratulations Terry! Some images from this morning (rough as usual!):
http://i727.photobucket.com/albums/ww271/Rob_Kau/C2011W32Dec2011texta.jpg
http://i727.photobucket.com/albums/ww271/Rob_Kau/C2011W32Dec2011textb.jpg
http://i727.photobucket.com/albums/ww271/Rob_Kau/C2011W32Dec2011compc.jpg

MPEC 2011-X16:
http://www.minorplanetcenter.net/mpec/K11/K11X16.html

Cheers -

[astroron]

Congratulations Terry :clap::clap::clap::clap::clap::clap :
Cheers :thumbsup:

[DavidU]

:prey2::bowdown:Fantastic effort Terry ! I'm thrilled for you.

[jjjnettie]

:D Congratulations Terry.
So much dedication, I'm proud of you young fella.
A Kreutz Sungrazer, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kreutz_Sungrazers very interesting indeed. And given that it was a Kreutz that sparked this obsession of yours, very apt. :)

It seems most astro discoveries happen in pairs, I expect the next comet to be found some time before xmas.

[mishku]

Couldn't have happened to a nicer bloke!!

:bowdown:

[Blue Skies]

Well done, Terry! :clap:

Gosh, its whipping along. Will keep an eye and ear out for news on it.

[Octane]

Nice one, babez.

H

[mithrandir]

Good one Terry.

I think we need a few more observations to improve the orbit. With the current elements CdC calculated it at mag -51 for Dec 16, and the Sun is only -26.

[Suzy]

Wow Terry, congratulations!!!!!! :2thumbs::2thumbs::2thumbs:

[PeterM]

This is HUGE news! I have known Terry for around 27 years and he is one of the nicest most genuine people I know and I send him my very best wishes in yet another well deserved discovery. The effort put in by Terry is something to aspire to. Terry mate I am having another CC and coke as per the other night we spoke now celebrating comet Lovejoy number 3.

[CometGuy]

Thanks to you all. Has been an exciting week for me!

Will be interesting to watch this comet in SOHO's C3/C2 choronograph cameras around Dec 14/15 - assuming it survives long enough. Here is a link to realtime C2/C3 images.

http://sohodata.nascom.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/soho_movie_theater

Now off to look at the supernova in NGC1404.....

Terry

ps. nice sequence Rob.

[h0ughy]

well done Terry

[ballaratdragons]

Party time again :rockband:

Onya Terry :cool:

[Lester]

Top catch Terry. How many comets have you discovered?

all the best.

[PeterM]

Ah yes! a very good question.

[Liz]

Congratulations Terry, wonderful news!! :thumbsup:

[allan gould]

Well done Terry, how about some particulars of it's discovery?

[tilbrook@rbe.ne]

Congratulations Terry!

Great news.

How many hours does the data reduction take, after an observing run?


Cheers,

Justin.

[acropolite]

Fantastic news Terry, congratulations, here's to many more.:cheers::cheers:

[spacezebra]

Congrats terry. Looking forward to more of your discoveries.

Cheers Petra d.

[CometGuy]

I've attached the discovery image sequence from November 27 as well as an image from this morning (Dec 3.7 UT) using the same scope but with 60 x 35 second exposures.

I've posted a discovery account here:

http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/comets-ml/message/18445

Oh and I managed to see the comet in my 12" Dob this morning which was quite a thrill!

Terry

[iceman]

Congrats Terry, is that number 3 now?

Wow, what a thrill indeed.

For those that haven't read it, here's an interview I did with Terry in March 2007 after the discovery of his first comet! :)
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/84-384-0-0-1-0.html

[Rob_K]

Bloggers are having a field day with this comet, great to see such interest! In addition, the "Sungrazing Comets" site has devoted a whole new page to Terry's discovery:
http://sungrazer.nrl.navy.mil/index.php?p=news/birthday_comet

LOL, while trawling around to see what's happening on the web about the comet I found this:
http://sohowww.nascom.nasa.gov/pickoftheweek/old/03dec2011/

Congrats again to Terry on the discovery!

Cheers -

[CometGuy]

Mike/Lester

Yes that's 3 now

Rob I think that would have been an honest mistake on SOHO's part.

Terry

[Rob_K]

Yep that's right Terry, didn't worry me until it was turning up on bloggers' sites as copyright SOHO, LOL. I contacted the SOHO webmaster and he changed the page - might stop it spreading, no great shakes anyway. It's a web thing really, a little like Chinese whispers. :lol:

Cheers -

[[1ponders]]

Dedication Terry, dedication. ;) Congratulation Terry. Well deserved. :clap:

[jjjnettie]

Bad Astronomy write up. :D
http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2011/12/04/amateur-astronomer-discovers-sungrazing-comet/

[Analog6]

Where can I see it - what part of the sky, what time etc? I can't find the info on here anywhere! Help

[swannies1983]

SE horizon. Start looking from 3-3.30am. Should be visible until just before 5am.

[Analog6]

Thanks Swannies - found the article on the home page too. South east is really bad for me - hills and trees. Will have to go for a drive and find a spot.