Which comet will be visible next

We will just have to wait and see what happens over the coming months. We may, or may not, have been seeing the break-up of this comet over the past couple of decades. During its return in no. Various fragments have been seen at most of its returns since then, including in no. Even at the most recent return, in no.

It has already been recovered in January by the Lowell Discovery Telescope in Arizona as a very faint object near 23rd magnitude, and when near perihelion will be visible in the western evening sky, albeit more favorably placed for observers in the southern hemisphere; it may be around 11th magnitude at the time.

Although this is very uncertain, there is a possibility of a strong meteor shower from this comet in , with some predictions suggesting that this could occur in late May from a radiant in southwestern Bootes. I have observed this comet at every return it has made in my lifetime, beginning with its discovery return in no. The return is moderately favorable, with the comet's being in the morning sky at an elongation of 55 degrees at the time of perihelion, and subsequently at opposition in June The viewing geometry is almost identical to that of the return in no.

This "classical" Halley-type comet period 70 years last returned in , four years before I was born. The viewing geometry in is, unfortunately, rather unfavorable, as during the run-up to perihelion the comet remains on the far side of the sun from Earth and is only visible for a brief period of time in the northwestern sky after dusk, at a small elongation 37 degrees in mid-March, shrinking to 28 degrees by month's end and to 23 degrees by perihelion.

Despite the poor viewing geometry, the comet is intrinsically rather bright, and should reach a peak brightness close to 5th magnitude.

Inouye Highway. Leave a Reply Cancel reply Your email address will not be published. An insightful discussion of ideas and viewpoints is encouraged, but comments must be civil and in good taste, with no personal attacks.

If your comments are inappropriate, you may be banned from posting. To report comments that you believe do not follow our guidelines, email hawaiiwarriorworld staradvertiser. Sign Up. Get the latest news by e-mail. Most Popular. Obituaries for November Big Island climate change project highlighted at COP It will become brighter and could be visible to the naked eye in late April or early May UH astronomers will use telescopes on Maunakea to study the comet as it approaches and after it has passed the Sun.

Some comets do not survive such close passages to the Sun. The best chance to see the comet may be in the first few days of May before the Moon becomes too bright , when the comet will be low in the western sky after sunset.