Comet Lulin Approaches

Luminari · 02-02-2009, 04:31 PM

Source: NASA
http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap090202.html

How bright will Comet Lulin become? No one knows for sure. Although it is notoriously difficult to accurately predict the brightness of newly discovered comets, Comet Lulin could well become visible to the unaided eye later this month. As Comet Lulin moves into the northern sky in mid February to rise around midnight, it should at least be spotted by comet watchers with binoculars and a good sky chart. Tracking observations indicate that the comet officially designated C/2007 N3 (Lulin) has now swung by the Sun and is approaching Earth on a trajectory that will bring it within half the Earth-Sun distance in late February. Comet Lulin's orbit indicates that this is likely the comet's first trip into the inner Solar System. The comet was discovered by Quanzhi Ye of Sun Yat-sen University on images obtained by Chi-Sheng Lin at the Lu-Lin Observatory of National Central University. In this picture, taken from Italy last Friday, are Comet Lulin's coma and tails, one tail pointing away from the Sun, and an anti-tail -- dust that trails the comet in its orbit and may appear to point toward the Sun.

Luminari · 02-04-2009, 02:56 PM

Helvetic · 02-06-2009, 09:31 AM

NASA Science News for February 4, 2009

A green comet of rare beauty is approaching Earth and may become visible to the naked eye later this month.

FULL STORY at

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2...tm?list1287054

Orion11 · 02-06-2009, 11:02 AM

did you see how the tail broke off?

Luminari · 02-06-2009, 11:06 AM

Here's a nice close up for you guys (you deserve the best)

Rareheart · 02-06-2009, 11:59 PM

Thanks for sharing Luminari...I so enjoy being alive.
Endless novelty.
I've read a lot about the electric universe theory and am constantly in awe of new discoveries, and new thought processes.

Luminari · 02-07-2009, 01:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Luminari

Here's a nice close up for you guys (you deserve the best)

I guess my picture pushed the allowable limits of socially accepted parameters for image scales and got deleted

Here is a photoshopped smaller version:

Antaletriangle · 02-07-2009, 01:02 PM

Luminari · 02-27-2009, 02:37 PM

Lulin with Saturn 23rd Feb 2009

02-02-2009, 04:31 PM	#1
Luminari Avalon Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Australia Posts: 2,570	Comet Lulin Approaches Source: NASA http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap090202.html How bright will Comet Lulin become? No one knows for sure. Although it is notoriously difficult to accurately predict the brightness of newly discovered comets, Comet Lulin could well become visible to the unaided eye later this month. As Comet Lulin moves into the northern sky in mid February to rise around midnight, it should at least be spotted by comet watchers with binoculars and a good sky chart. Tracking observations indicate that the comet officially designated C/2007 N3 (Lulin) has now swung by the Sun and is approaching Earth on a trajectory that will bring it within half the Earth-Sun distance in late February. Comet Lulin's orbit indicates that this is likely the comet's first trip into the inner Solar System. The comet was discovered by Quanzhi Ye of Sun Yat-sen University on images obtained by Chi-Sheng Lin at the Lu-Lin Observatory of National Central University. In this picture, taken from Italy last Friday, are Comet Lulin's coma and tails, one tail pointing away from the Sun, and an anti-tail -- dust that trails the comet in its orbit and may appear to point toward the Sun. Last edited by Steve_A; 02-06-2009 at 11:07 AM.

02-04-2009, 02:56 PM	#2
Luminari Avalon Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Australia Posts: 2,570	Re: Comet Lulin Approaches

02-06-2009, 09:31 AM	#3
Helvetic Avalon Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Switzerland Posts: 203	Green Comet Approaches Earth NASA Science News for February 4, 2009 A green comet of rare beauty is approaching Earth and may become visible to the naked eye later this month. FULL STORY at http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2...tm?list1287054

02-06-2009, 11:02 AM	#4
Orion11 Avalon Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 1,098	Re: Green Comet Approaches Earth did you see how the tail broke off?

02-06-2009, 11:06 AM	#5
Luminari Avalon Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Australia Posts: 2,570	Re: Comet Lulin Approaches Here's a nice close up for you guys (you deserve the best) Last edited by Steve_A; 02-06-2009 at 11:08 AM.

02-06-2009, 11:59 PM	#6
Rareheart Avalon Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: SE Coast, US Posts: 195	Re: Comet Lulin Approaches Thanks for sharing Luminari...I so enjoy being alive. Endless novelty. I've read a lot about the electric universe theory and am constantly in awe of new discoveries, and new thought processes.

02-07-2009, 01:02 PM	#8
Antaletriangle Avalon Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: U.K. Posts: 3,380	Re: Comet Lulin Approaches

02-27-2009, 02:37 PM	#9
Luminari Avalon Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Australia Posts: 2,570	Re: Comet Lulin Approaches Lulin with Saturn 23rd Feb 2009