JJ - how do you mean re: tail lasting? . as a visual thing? or over time in space/solar system,
i am totally whistling in the wind here, but I guesstimate, even as much as 3 weeks from now tail will be holding out, as a binocular/ long exposure object, even if that tail shrinks from view by half! its still a monster?
how long will it last in space, i guess not that long as it is now, on the scale of things, just spread out, i mean the solar wind is still pushing it out as you said - i guess it will dilute and spread out according to the individual particle sizes (edit:and densities), just like meteor showers are made up, denser grains spreads closer to the old original orbit and graduating lighter stuff out further from original perihilion time orbit path, and the tugging gravitational tides of the planets, like jupiter particularly, will further distort and dilute the tail? it sure seems to be looking like it will be an issue re: natural light pollution, that will be interesting. i mean, i remember we were looking at Hale bopp thru scopes 4 years (near the large mag?) after it closest approach/perihelion, that was a bigger object physically, but it didnt have a tail like this?
gday Morton, you put it in a nutshell beautifully, my sentiments also
hope ya get plenty of great nights ahead!