Thread: Comet
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Old 23-01-2022, 06:45 PM
WAussie (Clive)
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Join Date: Feb 2021
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Great comets

Comet Ikeya-Seki was a fine sight in 1965 from dark skies in suburban Perth back in the days when all the street lights went off at 1:15 am (except for the CBD - which was very small then).

So much more light pollution now though!

According to Comet Ikeya-Seki ‘s description in Wikipedia, "As it approached perihelion observers reported that it was clearly visible in the daytime sky next to the Sun. In Japan, where it reached perihelion at local noon, it was seen shining at magnitude −10. It proved to be one of the brightest comets seen in the last thousand years, and is sometimes known as the Great Comet of 1965."

Since then other memorable comets I've seen include Hyakutake, Hale-Bopp and McNaught. Even Halley's Comet was bright in the morning sky at first, but a disappointment for many after perihelion brought it into the evening sky.
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