Comet 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 3

fringe_dweller · #1 10-03-2006, 05:53 PM

In the words of the late great tv identity Big Kev.. 'I'm Excited!'

..why?
In recent times more new very faint components of 73P have been imaged with CCD's and it is now up too 7!! components (is there more..!!?) - although wether the fainter ones survive very long is questionable.
But as it is, this is possibly looking like a closer 'string of pearls' comet more and more! recent images of component 'C' (the main body) seem to show it to be quite dusty indeed!? and hopefully that is a good sign :-)))
http://www.astrostudio.at/Astrofotos...gorie=&k_id=64
but what has got me really excited is the release by Seiichi Yoshida of his light curves for the 7 components - and they may ALL reach small scope in dark sky visibilty! - if they all survive. this will be one sweet widefield shot

http://www.aerith.net/comet/catalog/0073P/2006.html
its going to be interesting manually entering all the orbital elemets in starry night for this one

and of course for more info Michael Mattiazzo has a write up and charts for southerners on his site http://www.yp-connect.net/~mmatti/

davidpretorius · #2 10-03-2006, 06:14 PM

i can't wait either, it will be in the north????

fringe_dweller · #3 10-03-2006, 06:33 PM

Yes mate, but we still get to see it pretty decently with elevations of up to an around 40º for 35 south at its best in may, in the morning sky near dawn. mid Northerners get it almost overhead tho, but it comes south after that

cometcatcher (Kevin) · #4 12-03-2006, 03:23 AM

Last time I observed this thing was in 1990 when it was in one piece. I just know I'm going to get confused with all the itty bitty bits this time.

Looks like the C fragment is around mag 12 at present. My small 5-6 inch scopes usually need single figures to spot them. Maybe next new moon there will be a chance for me then.

fringe_dweller · #5 12-03-2006, 02:46 PM

Good luck Kevin,

how dark are you home's skies? I gather they are pretty decent except for some horizon's you mentioned.
when I said small scopes, I was thinking of 8" newt/dobs in dark skies, which seems to be a small scope on this forum, when i look at members sig's!.

gaa_ian (Ian) · #6 12-03-2006, 03:45 PM

I think I had better get the folks interested in Imaging up early on the morning of the 8th of may for this comet !
See the attached frame from starry night, showing its proximity to the Ring Nebula

I presume this is peculiar to our Latitude as the Map from Astronomy 2006 shows it lower than seen here ?

cometcatcher (Kevin) · #7 13-03-2006, 03:34 AM

Keep in mind that's around close approach to Earth. The comet will be almost close enough to throw a stone at (0.05?au) and moving about 3 degrees per day I think so it will move through the star charts pretty quick at close approach. That should also make it a good binocular comet.

I have a street light and road in that direction about 100m away. I wish my Lilly Pilly hedge would grow faster to block the lights!

gaa_ian (Ian) · #8 13-03-2006, 09:26 PM

We have a great northern horizon, with nothing but 100's of km of ocean.
So hopefully it will be a good show !

jjjnettie (Jeanette) · #9 13-03-2006, 10:26 PM

Good O.
Here's hoping that there isn't a rush to buy telescopes to see it. Cause I couldn't bear to miss it if it's raining.

Blue Skies (Jacquie) · #10 19-03-2006, 01:08 AM

I'm looking forward to this. I remember seeing the break up in 1995, even did a little sketch of it at the time, was a lovely sight in a small scope. I guess I'm hoping the components might break up even further and put on a really good show! yeah...here's dreaming...

clare · #11 20-03-2006, 12:39 PM

Hello ! I am new to all this and no absoulutey nothing about astronomy. I can pick out the southern cross on a good night (I am from the northern hemisphere originally !).

Basically, I am interested in this comet. I will have nothing more than my eyes and a pair of binoculars if I am lucky. In lay terms, could you please tell me when and where I need to be looking (I am in n.e. VIC)

I had my first go at astrophotography last night (the southern cross !) with my new digital slr and would like to give the comet a go too. Also, is there a meteor shower due soon ? April time ? Will it be anything as spectacular as the Leonids ???

Thanks !

[1ponders] (Paul) · #12 20-03-2006, 12:55 PM

Hi Clare.

Unfortunately this comet will not be in the best position to view for you guys in the southern states. Without looking at a star chart I don't know how hight Lyra and Hercules will get for you but I can't imagine it is very high above the northern horizon. These are the two constellations the comet will pass through when it will be brightest. (If my memory serves me correct) The best thing you can do if you are intested in comets and meteor showers etc is to get a copy of the Ephemeris "Astronomy 2006" , The quintessential book for amateur astronomers interested in all things planetary, interplanetary, cometary and meteorary

fringe_dweller · #13 20-03-2006, 02:25 PM

Paul, rest assured, with dark, flat and clear northern horizons - and maximum altitude - we can see those constellations just fine down here

at closest approach on the 12th may through to the end of the month, the fragements are climbing in altitude till it reaches around 40º for midsoutherners by end of may, just in time for the moon to get out of the way.
Clare, do you have a planisphere? if not i thoroughly recommend getting one for 35º south (i think thats the standard southern latitude? ) When myself and my friends (and before computers) were learning the night sky, these were indispensible tools of the trade, and they are very cheap - a lot cheaper than dragging a laptop out in the cold

- around 20 dollars usually?
These comet fragments during are best seen near dawn, just before it gets light, thats when they will be at their highest.
Re. the meteor shower(s) around april, nothing as speccy as the 2001 or 1998 leonids is expected this year that I know of, you do have the annual Eta Aquarids in early may (moonfree too) in the morning to dawn sky on the 6th may, but that is far from spectacular?.
But there is a possiblity of some meteor action at the beginning of june to do with this comet's trail from an earlier apparition 1995, but that is speculation at this point, would be nice tho :-)))
also comets are tricky, no one can garantee what will happen, they quite often are fizzers compared to their hype, and you do need very dark skies with most of them for quality visual work.
HTH!

[1ponders] (Paul) · #14 20-03-2006, 02:54 PM

Glad to hear that Kearn. I'd be devastated to think that we'd get to see something up here and our southern brothers and sister would miss out.

xstream (John) · #15 20-03-2006, 03:13 PM

Hi Clare and welcome to IIS.
We'll be trying to view these two fragments in the coming months. If your interested come along to the next ASAW (Astronomical Society of Albury Wodonga) meeting, first Wednesday of the month at Victory Primary school 7:30pm. or PM (private message) me if you want some more details.