.comment-link {margin-left:.6em;}

Saturday, June 18, 2005

 

A comet splits in two

Comet 2005/K2 has split in two! Predicted to be an uninspiring 11.2, it is brighter than expected, around 8.5, which puts it in "easy" amateur range. Except it is very low. It's 11 deg above the northewest horizon tonight, almost directly below Regulus, and will skim up through Cancer and the beehive to Hydra the next few days.

Here's a nice image of the comet from Mike H. Also have a look at this page.

Here's some position locations, time is at local astronomical twilight (ACST)
Date Altitude Geo R.A. Geo Dec
18 Jun 2005 +11° 10' 30" 08h 48m 34.1s +32° 41' 12"
19 Jun 2005 +12° 55' 14" 08h 48m 18.1s +29° 53' 09"
20 Jun 2005 +14° 30' 47" 08h 47m 52.4s +27° 10' 44"
21 Jun 2005 +15° 56' 40" 08h 47m 17.5s +24° 34' 27"
22 Jun 2005 +17° 12' 37" 08h 46m 34.1s +22° 04' 40"

I'll try and get a map up on my website ASAP. Of course, it is pissing down here.

For more on the story see Sky&Telescope.

Comments: Post a Comment



<< Home

This page is powered by Blogger. Isn't yours?