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Author Topic: Comet C/2023 a3  (Read 99 times)

Ben

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Comet C/2023 a3
« on: October 13, 2024, 11:14:07 PM »
I had read about this comet, then forgotten all about it until I stepped out tonight to let Steve do his business and I put my NODs on. As I was scanning the sky for satellites, I saw the below. I couldn't see it with my naked eye, but man did it pop in the NODs. The image looks a little crooked because I ran into the house and just threw my NVG recorder on, so it's not aligned right. This is about 90min after sunset and I just barely caught it before it dropped below the horizon.

I'm going to go out earlier tomorrow night. It's supposed to be visible with binoculars for about the next two weeks on the Western horizon, but the moon was out tonight, which was problematic. Around 19OCT, the moon should still be below the horizon while the comet is above it, so that might be a better viewing time, even if the comet is farther from the Earth.

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HankB

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Re: Comet C/2023 a3
« Reply #1 on: October 13, 2024, 11:41:30 PM »
The "experts" were saying it was going to be SO bright it would be visible in daylight. I looked for it yesterday and - not having NODs - saw no sign of it. Sky was pretty clear, too.

95% of the time when "experts" enthuse about some spectacular celestial event - it's underwhelming. If it's visible at all.
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K Frame

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Re: Comet C/2023 a3
« Reply #2 on: Today at 07:11:07 AM »
Yep, predicting how visible a comet is going to be is nothing more than a guess.

That one that popped back in the early 1990s... Hale Bopp? Was originally supposed to be fairly dim, but it was incredible.
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Ben

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Re: Comet C/2023 a3
« Reply #3 on: Today at 08:05:35 AM »
I clipped the video, which is a bit less grainy and shows the tail fluctuating. Hopefully I'll get some better stuff tonight.

https://youtu.be/SnWDuNh6eVc
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HankB

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Re: Comet C/2023 a3
« Reply #4 on: Today at 08:12:17 AM »
Quote from: K Frame on Today at 07:11:07 AM
Yep, predicting how visible a comet is going to be is nothing more than a guess.

That one that popped back in the early 1990s... Hale Bopp? Was originally supposed to be fairly dim, but it was incredible.
I remember Hale-Bopp - it was bright with a visible tail but so far away it was pretty small. I also remember the hype around Kohoutek back in 1973. Never did manage to spot it.

The last appearance of Halley's Comet in 1986 was underwhelming - it was no more than a fuzzy star.
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Sometimes I wonder if the world is being run by smart people who are putting us on, or by imbeciles who really mean it. - Mark Twain
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Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it. - Mark Twain

Ben

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Re: Comet C/2023 a3
« Reply #5 on: Today at 08:17:28 AM »
I was backpacking with friends during Hyakutake. We were in a dark sky area and it was amazing. We slept outside the tents all night so we could watch it. Incredibly bright with the naked eye.
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K Frame

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Re: Comet C/2023 a3
« Reply #6 on: Today at 08:47:36 AM »
"I also remember the hype around Kohoutek back in 1973. Never did manage to spot it."

Yep, same. Mom and I went out to try to see it and never could spot it.

Same with Halley's in 86.

But the two in 1996? Holy crap they were amazing, so bright even in Washington, DC, metro.
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dogmush

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Re: Comet C/2023 a3
« Reply #7 on: Today at 08:49:54 AM »
Looks pretty low on your horizon.  I wonder where it is down here.  I don't have a clean horizon (lots of trees) but i do have pretty dark sky around here right now  =D.  Might have to look for that tonight.
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Ben

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Re: Comet C/2023 a3
« Reply #8 on: Today at 08:52:14 AM »
Quote from: dogmush on Today at 08:49:54 AM
Looks pretty low on your horizon.  I wonder where it is down here.  I don't have a clean horizon (lots of trees) but i do have pretty dark sky around here right now  =D.  Might have to look for that tonight.

It's supposed to be higher in on the horizon each night, but of course getting farther away. Hopefully between sundown and moonrise, there is a sweet spot for viewing this week.
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MechAg94

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Re: Comet C/2023 a3
« Reply #9 on: Today at 12:15:56 PM »
Quote from: HankB on Today at 08:12:17 AM
I remember Hale-Bopp - it was bright with a visible tail but so far away it was pretty small. I also remember the hype around Kohoutek back in 1973. Never did manage to spot it.

The last appearance of Halley's Comet in 1986 was underwhelming - it was no more than a fuzzy star.
My Dad and I got up early in the morning to see Halley's Comet.  We could see it with binoculars, but it wasn't much to look at.  I was hoping to live long enough to see it again.  We will see.  I talked to my Great Grandfather at the time who saw it when he was young. 
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WLJ

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Re: Comet C/2023 a3
« Reply #10 on: Today at 12:20:28 PM »
Quote from: K Frame on Today at 07:11:07 AM
Yep, predicting how visible a comet is going to be is nothing more than a guess.

That one that popped back in the early 1990s... Hale Bopp? Was originally supposed to be fairly dim, but it was incredible.

Yeah, while a comet's trajectory can be precisely predicted it's out gassing is more or less an educated guess.
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Re: Comet C/2023 a3
« Reply #11 on: Today at 01:24:30 PM »
Quote from: Ben on Today at 08:05:35 AM
I clipped the video, which is a bit less grainy and shows the tail fluctuating. Hopefully I'll get some better stuff tonight.

https://youtu.be/SnWDuNh6eVc

Cool video Ben !  Thanks !

As I'm east of St. Louis with a lot of trees around, the chances of seeing this are slim - at best.
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Re: Comet C/2023 a3
« Reply #12 on: Today at 01:29:09 PM »
Quote from: MechAg94 on Today at 12:15:56 PM
My Dad and I got up early in the morning to see Halley's Comet.  We could see it with binoculars, but it wasn't much to look at.  I was hoping to live long enough to see it again.  We will see.  I talked to my Great Grandfather at the time who saw it when he was young. 

My Great Grandfather was farming/ranch handing in the Dakotas when it appeared in 1910. He was also a writer, and wrote a rather interesting recounting of it.
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